Lumen Institute of Integrated Studies: Course Descriptions

Capitalism, Socialism and Catholic Social Teaching
Dr. Constance Nielsen

Course Description:

This class will cover theories of private property as well as proposals for principles of economic exchange, from a philosophical perspective. The readings are organized historically, in order to appreciate the evolution of social property management over the course of the evolution of political transformation and increased globalization. The intention of the course, however, is to compare various theoretical proposals for the legitimacy or illegitimacy of private property holdings and to study how these theories effect the concrete decisions of political systems, systems of economic exchange, poverty alleviation and the common good. Primary focus will be placed upon the comparison of the capitalist and communist systems of exchange, and the response from the social teaching of the Catholic Church.

*This course is listed on the UW Spring 2012 Timetable as Religious Studies (RS) 400

Reading List:

• Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae (Selections)
• Richard Schlatter, Private Property: The History of an Idea (Selections)
• Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations (Selections)
• Karl Marx, Communist Manifesto
• Leo XIII, Rerum novarum
•  John Paul II, Centesimus annus