Dupuy’s view on economism

French economist and philosopher Jean-Pierre Dupuy has drawn attention to the dominance of society by not only the powers of finance and commerce, but also by economic rationalism, a methodology of maximising profit, rent, utility, happiness, given suitable sets of incentives. Financial markets are...

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Main Author: Petrus Simons
Format: Article
Language:Afrikaans
Published: Scriber Editorial Systems 2013-11-01
Series:Koers : Bulletin for Christian Scholarship
Online Access:http://koersjournal.org.za/index.php/koers/article/view/2110
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spelling doaj-de205f45ae874d8bb587fc8c525164932020-11-25T01:59:43ZafrScriber Editorial SystemsKoers : Bulletin for Christian Scholarship0023-270X2304-85572013-11-0178117http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/koers. v78i1.2110Dupuy’s view on economismPetrus SimonsFrench economist and philosopher Jean-Pierre Dupuy has drawn attention to the dominance of society by not only the powers of finance and commerce, but also by economic rationalism, a methodology of maximising profit, rent, utility, happiness, given suitable sets of incentives. Financial markets are largely irrational as they move from major booms into busts and instil a speculative mentality throughout society. Society itself is compared to a supermarket in which we choose from amongst a wide range of closely related alternatives, without having any clue of adverse consequences. This is a form of fatalism. Similarly, threats of major catastrophes are downplayed, including a nuclear conflagration, climate warming and moral collapses, especially individualism stimulated by desire as a key motivator of indefinite economic growth. The author’s proposal of enlightened catastrophism is discussed and an alternative is proposed in the form of enlightened subversion inspired by moves that would strengthen the ability of families and those responsible for managing businesses, education and health to exercise their own vocations in mutual service.http://koersjournal.org.za/index.php/koers/article/view/2110
collection DOAJ
language Afrikaans
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Petrus Simons
spellingShingle Petrus Simons
Dupuy’s view on economism
Koers : Bulletin for Christian Scholarship
author_facet Petrus Simons
author_sort Petrus Simons
title Dupuy’s view on economism
title_short Dupuy’s view on economism
title_full Dupuy’s view on economism
title_fullStr Dupuy’s view on economism
title_full_unstemmed Dupuy’s view on economism
title_sort dupuy’s view on economism
publisher Scriber Editorial Systems
series Koers : Bulletin for Christian Scholarship
issn 0023-270X
2304-8557
publishDate 2013-11-01
description French economist and philosopher Jean-Pierre Dupuy has drawn attention to the dominance of society by not only the powers of finance and commerce, but also by economic rationalism, a methodology of maximising profit, rent, utility, happiness, given suitable sets of incentives. Financial markets are largely irrational as they move from major booms into busts and instil a speculative mentality throughout society. Society itself is compared to a supermarket in which we choose from amongst a wide range of closely related alternatives, without having any clue of adverse consequences. This is a form of fatalism. Similarly, threats of major catastrophes are downplayed, including a nuclear conflagration, climate warming and moral collapses, especially individualism stimulated by desire as a key motivator of indefinite economic growth. The author’s proposal of enlightened catastrophism is discussed and an alternative is proposed in the form of enlightened subversion inspired by moves that would strengthen the ability of families and those responsible for managing businesses, education and health to exercise their own vocations in mutual service.
url http://koersjournal.org.za/index.php/koers/article/view/2110
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