Catholicism, Protestantism, and Capitalism is one of the most scholarly and comprehensive treatments of the antagonism between Catholic doctrine and the capitalist spirit. As such it is eminently persuasive. The author, Amintore Fanfani, was the Chair of Economic History at the University of the Sacred Heart, Milan, Italy, and was the heir to a long and unmatched tradition of Italian Social Catholicism, a tradition effectively sanctioned and promoted by Popes Leo XIII and St. Pius X. Catholicism, Protestantism, and Capitalism will be of particular interest to those seeking to better understand both the preconceptions and mentalities that the pioneers of the capitalist system possessed, and the reaction of Catholicism to that system. The book demonstrates, conclusively, that there is a scholarly, intelligent, and convincing answer to the propaganda which suggests that the world is irreparably divided into two camps, the capitalist and socialist.
Most welcome about this edition is the fact that it corrects a pervasive and relatively long-standing error about what the integral Social Doctrine of the Church has to say about the capitalist way of life. For far too long apologists for big business, high finance, and laissez-faire “economics” have dominated the field, and cleverly created the impression that good Catholics are, by definition, capitalists. Au contraire, replies Fanfani, in this definitive exposition of the true approach to capitalism in light of the Catholic Faith. This edition will go a long way towards correcting a record that for upwards of 20 years has been misrepresented by parties interested more in conforming the Faith to America’s “business ethic” than in conforming that ethic to the Catholic Faith.
Easy to read and yet scholarly, accessible and yet referencing literally hundreds of primary sources, this book will change the way Catholics think about economic life.
Preface —The Publishers
Foreword —Dr. Charles M.A. Clark
Introduction —Dr. Giorgio Campanini
I. The Terms of the Problem
1. Religion and our problem.
2. The idea of capitalism.
3. Lines of treatment.
II. The Essence of Capitalism
1. Problem of origin of capitalism.
2. The capitalist spirit.
3. Points to be noted.
III. Instruments of Capitalism
1. Spread of capitalist spirit.
2. Pre-capitalist institutions as foundations for progress of capitalist spirit.
3. The minimum means in the labour sphere.
4. Rationalization of the workshop.
5. Finance.
6. Capture of the market.
IV. The State and Capitalism
1. Necessity for capture of the State.
2. The State and Liberty.
3. The State and the Market.
4. Needs of the State.
V. Catholicism and Capitalism
1. Social ethics of Catholicism.
2. Catholic ideals and capitalist ideals.
3. Catholic actions and the progress of capitalism.
VI. The Rise of Capitalism
1. Capitalism in a Catholic age.
2. Reasons for its appearance.
VII. Protestantism and Capitalism
1. Economic and social effects of the Reformation.
2. Protestant moralists and economic problems.
3. Protestantism and capitalism.
4. Problem of the predominantly capitalistic development of Protestant countries.
