Gaudium et Spes and the Future of Business Ethics

Abstract: More than any particular text or statement, Francis reminds us

importance of and need to properly appropriate the Second Vatical Council in the
life of the Church and the World. In this paper, I argue that Gaudium et
Spes provides key insights for future research in business ethics. The paper
proceeds in three parts. In part 1, I contrast two leading but opposing approaches
to business ethics. The first approach of Joseph Heath, the market failure view,
conceptualizes economic activity instrumentally as directed toward efficient
outcomes. The second approach involves an application of Alasdair MacIntyre's
concept of a practice to contemporary organizations, and focuses on preserving
a meaningful, craft-like, approach to production but ignores the need for efficient
economic outcomes. Part 2 notes the shortcomings of these, respective
approaches: Heath's failure to consider the dignity of the human person and
MacIntyre's failure to consider the global vocation of the human person, two key
concepts of Gaudium et Spes. In this section I argue further that Gaudium Spes
corrects Heath's one-sided (secular) utilitarianism and MacIntyre's regressive
(Catholic) Thomism by emphasizing the need to critically integrate traditional
Catholic social ethics with modern notions of economic efficiency, and human
dignity. Part 3 elaborates specific themes from the document suggesting lines for
future research in business ethics that both builds upon leading approaches in
the field (Heath and MacIntyre) and appropriates the key insights of Gaudium et
Spes. I conclude by briefly arguing that this approach promises to answer
Francis's call for a more humane economy.

Caleb Bernacchio, IESE Business School