The conference on Economics and Human Flourishing took place at the ETF in Leuven. The central question was: what can economics learn from theology? The keynote speakers Masao Ogasaki, Gordon Menzies and Ellen van Stichel shed their light on this question. Our colleagues Lans Bovenberg, Joost Hengstmengel, Bas van Os and Ard Jan Biemond also made a contribution to this conference.
The central theme of the ETF conference is the economic anthropology. To what extent is that an oversimplification of man, and which elements of theology could enrich the economic perspective? Prof. Gordon Menzies argued that the economic anthropology takes human limits too little into account, and is therefore too optimistic about reality - and at the same time forgoes the ethical dimension of existence. Prof. Masao Ogasaki argued that in addition to market and government, the community mechanism will be needed to solve social problems; and it is theology that deals much with the community! Prof. Ellen van Stichel devoted her speech to an exposition of Catholic Social Teaching: a theological perspective that can normatively guide economics.
Our colleague Ard Jan Biemond (photo) responded to Menzies with his presentation about the image of man as homo dignus: a dignified human being. This dignity can function as an ethical norm for the economy, he argued. At the same time, he drew attention to the limits of human existence. Although economic man operates as an atomistic individual in an existential vacuum, reality is limited in itself: nature, culture, and the boundedness of human rationality and morality are all so many limits to human existence. Recognition of these limits is necessary to understand human choice.
Joost Hengstmengel argued for the integration of the concept of sin in economics. Although many economists, including Christian ones, have not dared to touch the concept of sin, it is an extremely useful idea for understanding the world. It provides an understanding of human limitations.
Our colleagues Lans Bovenberg (photo) and Bas van Os presented their vision on love in the economy. They see the human being as a homo amans, a loving being. They distinguish three forms of love: eros, the selfish love; philia, the love directed towards the community; and agape, which addresses every human being. By developing from eros via philia to agape, humanity can build a good society, they argued.