Peter Sedgwick explores the relation of a theology of justice to that of human identity in the context of the market economy, and engages with critics of capitalism and the market. He examines three aspects of the market economy: first, how does it shape personal identity, through consumption and the experience of paid employment in relation to the work ethic? Second, what impact does the global economy have on local cultures? Finally, as manufacturing changes out of all recognition through the impact of technology and global competition, what is the effect in terms of poverty? Drawing on the response of the Catholic Church, both in the United States and in papal encyclicals, to the market economy from 1985-1991, Sedgwick argues that its involvement deserves to be better known. Moreover, he recommends that the Churches remain part of the debate in reforming and humanizing the market economy.
Author(s): Peter H. Sedgwick
Year: 1999
Language: English
Pages: 340
Cover......Page 1
Half-title......Page 3
Series-title......Page 5
Title......Page 7
Copyright......Page 8
Contents......Page 9
General editor's preface......Page 11
Acknowledgements......Page 13
Introduction......Page 15
CHAPTER 1 Modernity, the market and human identity......Page 28
MODERNITY AND THE PROTESTANT WORK ETHIC......Page 30
THE COLONIZATION OF THE LIFEWORLD......Page 35
THEOLOGY, IDENTITY AND JUSTICE......Page 67
CONCLUSION......Page 93
CHAPTER 2 Consumerism and personal identity......Page 96
CAMBRIDGE PLATONISM AND SENTIMENTALISM......Page 97
VEBLEN'S THEORY OF CONSUMPTION......Page 101
IMAGINATION AND CONSUMPTION......Page 111
CONSUMPTION IN WESTERN CULTURE IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY......Page 121
THEOLOGY AND CONSUMERISM......Page 127
HUMANISM AND CONSUMERISM......Page 145
CONCLUSIONS......Page 150
CHAPTER 3 The work ethic......Page 165
WEBER'S PROTESTANT ETHIC THESIS......Page 166
PHYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE WORK ETHIC......Page 173
THE FUTURE OF THE WORK ETHIC......Page 182
A THEOLOGY OF VOCATION IN PAID EMPLOYMENT......Page 194
CHAPTER 4 Globalization......Page 214
CULTURE AND CONSUMPTION......Page 217
THE FAILINGS OF THE GLOBAL MARKET......Page 224
CHAPTER 5 The response of the churches......Page 236
CHAPTER 6 Concluding reflections......Page 284
1 MODERNITY, THE MARKET AND HUMAN IDENTITY......Page 288
2 CONSUMERISM AND PERSONAL IDENTITY......Page 292
3 THE WORK ETHIC......Page 299
4 GLOBALIZATION......Page 304
5 THE RESPONSE OF THE CHURCHES......Page 306
Select bibliography......Page 312
Index of names and subjects......Page 325
Index of biblical references......Page 339
