Caritas in Veritate: a Challenge to "Dualistic" Economic Thinking

Practical dichotomies in economic actions follow from dualistic thinking. Caritas in veritate (CV) challenges dualistic thinking which seems to prevail, despite the meaning of the word “uni-versity”. The paper highlights some of the encyclical’s challenges to deep-seated dualisms in economic thinking about human and global development; it argues that it is reasonable to accept the challenge, on the basis of elemental human experience that – with all our differences – makes us one de facto one human family, living on one globe. The two words which compose the title of the encyclical, love and truth, stand out as the basic language of elementary human experience and the possible common grammar for both human and interdisciplinary dialogue, in the global society - one and plural. This first paragraph highlights passages in which CV challenges dualisms in economic thinking, pointing to the need of an «orderly interdisciplinary exchange» (CV 30) facilitated by the Social Doctrine of the Church. Paragraph II discusses the conditions for non-fragmented, interdisciplinary work: disciplines need a robust, common generative point allowing cross-fertilization. The third paragraph elaborates on the idea that elementary human experience con provide a solid basis for framing economic analysis around the notions of actions and relations, providing a more adequate account of what economic development is about, and dismantling bifurcation between scientific enquiry and ethical considerations. The subsequent paragraphs exemplify the implications of overcoming the dualism between (economic) wealth creation and (ethical) wealth distribution; and the separation between life ethics and social ethics, using generation as a metaphor for development. The final Paragraph VI consider gratuitousness as necessary source for innovation.