Hristian Values And Economic Globalization Ethic Principles

Christian Values and Economic Globalization Ethic Principles

Ramon Santacana Feliu

Ph.D. in Economic Sciences and Business Management
Universitat Central de Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain)

Overseas Chinese Institute of Technology
March 26, 2009

Christian Values and Economic Globalization Ethic Principles

Introduction

There is a consensus among business ethics scholars thateconomic activity, need to be inserted in a moral frame. Market economy mechanisms left alone does not guarantee a harmonic social development or the necessary wellbeing of all human beings.

The financial crisis initiated in July 2007 and the posterior developments to the present economic recession signal a necessary change of paradigm on the interaction between Economic Activity and EthicPrinciples.

This conference aims to present an introductory vision of Christian Values that can be used as Ethical Principles regarding economic activity.

To give this introductory vision of Christian Values that can be used as Ethical Principles regarding economic activity, we will use a document called the “Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Present World Gaudium et Spes”.[1]

Thisdocument promulgated by Pope Paul VI, was elaborated, discussed and approved by bishops from the whole World (it was approved by a vote of 2,307 to 75 of the bishops assembled). They met in Rome for the Vatican II Council from 1962 to 1965. Today it is the reference document of the church that deals with economic, social and political maters.

We will refer to the document as GS the acronym of “Gaudiumet Spes,” its name in Latin that means "Joy and Hope."

The World Situation

The World Situation in 1965 according to Gaudium et Spes (GS)

GS 4 acknowledges that "The human race is in a new period in its history, characterized by rapid and profound changes, which gradually spread to the entire universe". It notices already that the world is yet in a period of global changes. These changescaused by man's own initiative, have consequences that are often beyond their own control.

The changes appear not only in the social order but also in the psychological, moral and religious ones, those changes appear at a very fast pace and puts humanity under what we would not hesitate to call it today global conditions.

"History itself is undergoing a period of accelerating so fast thatevery man can hardly follow it" and that "the whole human undergo yet the same fate." (GS 5)

A World in striking contradictions

As will see, in these decades, it seems that none of these trends reversed but only accentuated.

"Never had the human race so much wealth at his disposal, so many possibilities, so much economic power economy of opulence. However, a large part of humanity suffersfrom hunger and misery.”

“Never has a man so acute sense of their liberty, and meanwhile there are new forms of social and psychological slavery.”

“While the world feels so much lively with its own unity and mutual interdependence in solidarity inescapable, it seems, however, serious split."

While IT allows a very fast dissemination of the ideas, at the same time happens multiple socialfragmentations: in the family, between generations, ethnic groups, ideologies…

While "Human relationships are multiplying increasing (...) does not always promote, however, the proper maturation process of the person and genuinely personal relationships."

While more and more people distance themselves from God or religion, "Individuals and social groups are hungry for a full life and a lifeworthy of man."

Considerations on the human person

The dignity of the human person comes from the fact that man was created in the image of God (GS 12) and made the lord of creation.

This dominion is not absolute but must be ordered one purpose: to glorify God.

Humanity as a “human family”: Human beings are social by nature and can not live without others. Man is, indeed, for his...