Relational Anthropology for Contemporary Economics

Jermo van Nes is Assistant Professor of New Testament at the Evangelische Theologische Faculteit (ETF), Leuven, Belgium. At ETF, he was Senior Researcher in the Institute of Leadership and Social Ethics. He is also a Research Associate in the Department of New Testament Studies at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. His research has been published in academic journals such as New Testament Studies, Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft, Novum Testamentum, and the Journal for the Study of the New Testament.

Patrick Nullens is Full Professor of Systematic Theology with a focus on Christian Ethics, and former Rector of the Evangelische Theologische Faculteit (ETF), Leuven, Belgium. He is the founder of ETF's Institute of Leadership and Social Ethics. He is also Extraordinary Professor of Leadership Ethics and Humane Society at the University of Humanistic Studies, Utrecht, the Netherlands. As a widely published author in the field of theology, ethics, leadership, and humanistic management, his research focus is on the need for new leadership and governance to carry out the urgent transitions in sustainability and social justice.

Steven C. van den Heuvel is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology with a focus on Christian Ethics at the Evangelische Theologische Faculteit (ETF), Leuven, Belgium, and Director of ETF's Institute of Leadership and Social Ethics. He published inter alia on the theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and ecological ethics. Furthermore, he edited a number of scholarly volumes, published by Springer, Palgrave, Peeters, and Routledge. At ETF, he is involved with various research projects on (theological) anthropology, including "The Hope Project" and "Homo Florens," both funded by the Goldschmeding Foundation.

This open access book offers a multidisciplinary dialogue on relational anthropology in contemporary economics. A particular view of the human being is often assumed in economic models, but seldom acknowledged let alone explicated. Addressing this neglected area of research in economic studies, altogether the contributors touch upon the importance and potential of virtues, the notions of freedom and self-love, the potential of simulation models, the dialectics of love, and questions of methodology in constructing a relational anthropology for contemporary economics. The overall result is a highly informative and constructive dialogue, establishing inter alia a research agenda for future collaborative and multidisciplinary study.

Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. Towards a Relational Anthropology Fostering an Economics of Human Flourishing.- Chapter 3. Natural Goodness.- Chapter 4. Homo Amans: A Personalist Response.- Chapter 5. God's Work in the World: The Deep Compatibility of Real Liberalism with Any Abrahamic Religion.- Chapter 6. What Is the Nature of Christian Love? Homo Amans and Revolutionary Altruism.- Chapter 7. Searching for the Anthropological Foundations of Economic Practice: Controversies and Opportunities.- Chapter 8. Altruistic Concern for the Other and the Development of the Virtue of Humility.- Chapter 9. Trust, Faith, and Social Imaginary: Prolegomena to an Anthropology of Personhood.- Chapter 10. Homo amans in the Economy: A Utopia?.- Chapter 11. Out with the Old, In with the New? From Conceptual Reconstruction in Philosophical Anthropology to a Realistic Theory of Change.- Chapter 12. Personal Leadership: How to Change What Cannot Be Changed: A Response to Wesley Wildman's Out with the Old, In with the New?.- Chapter 13. A Relational Anthropology for Contemporary Economics? Concluding Reflections.