Stefano Solari - Can a Catholic be Liberal? Roman Catholicism and Liberalism in a Political Economy Perspective (1800–1970)

jpe:9252 - Journal of Philosophical Economics, February 13, 2023, Volume XVI - https://doi.org/10.46298/jpe.9252
Can a Catholic be Liberal? Roman Catholicism and Liberalism in a Political Economy Perspective (1800–1970)Article

Authors: Stefano Solari ORCID1

  • 1 Università degli Studi di Padova = University of Padua

The philosophy of the Enlightenment and political thought of modernity found tough opposition in the Roman Catholic Church. Liberalism was associated with Free Masons and revolutionary intent. Nonetheless, liberalism and political economy stimulated some theoretical analysis and specific theoretical positions in terms of social philosophy and social economics by the Church. This paper presents an analysis of encyclical letters and other papal documents, as well as the writings of other Catholic scholars, to elaborate on the theoretical points used to contrast liberalism. Compromises, as well as turning points in the evolution of the Catholic position, are investigated. Lastly, the epistemological and historical reasons for the affinity of Roman Catholicism with ethical liberalism and the limits of this similarity are discussed. 1. Liberal and Catholic, an Italian drama


Volume: Volume XVI
Section: Articles
Published on: February 13, 2023
Accepted on: February 10, 2023
Submitted on: October 19, 2022
Keywords: JEL: A - General Economics and Teaching/A.A1 - General Economics/A.A1.A12 - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines,JEL: B - History of Economic Thought, Methodology, and Heterodox Approaches/B.B0 - General,JEL: N - Economic History/N.N3 - Labor and Consumers, Demography, Education, Health, Welfare, Income, Wealth, Religion, and Philanthropy/N.N3.N30 - General, International, or Comparative,JEL: Z - Other Special Topics/Z.Z1 - Cultural Economics • Economic Sociology • Economic Anthropology/Z.Z1.Z12 - Religion,[SHS.ECO]Humanities and Social Sciences/Economics and Finance,[SHS]Humanities and Social Sciences

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