Thread by @PiAlbertus

Let's talk about Heinrich Pesch's "Ethics and National Economy". A very excellent (especially for its brevity) book on the moral, Catholic view of national economics.

It is not about the mechanics of economics, but the proper way to view it as dealing very closely with morality.

I've picked almost 30 quotes that I think give a good, broad overview of the topics in the book. I've skipped a lot of the direct criticism of Capitalism, simply because I think most people are fairly familiar with them.

They were very good, though, so read the book.

Some broad themes that are excellent:

1. Put God and morality first
2. Society is cooperative and organic
3. Nations can be at particular stages of economic progress, and that stage matters for wages, charity, etc.
4. Did I mention cooperation and love?

Let's start off with this excellent perspective.

This sounds like a familiar problem. Act with love and charity to those close to you, as benevolence and beneficence require.

This was a surprising perspective, repeated a few times. Pesch doesn't hold to any one particular system or government, opting to value the principles first. (Presumably to apply them prudentially).

"Organic" is a key concept. Here Pesch reminds us that the State isn't some all-encompassing animal that we are the cells of.

This is just hilarious. It's also making a point about the variation in culture and behavior that might mean different methods for satisfying wants and needs apply.

For all the 'mix your labor' homies out there.

Pesch hits on themes we've seen elsewhere, such as Guardini, about the effects of removing the craft from work.

Work is required! "Abolish work" folks BTFO.

That doesn't mean onlyfans. (more on that later)

Goods should be good, of course. #BanPorn

This is one of those key themes, which is the cooperation in love that we should strive for and promote.

Capitalism is mostly just 'rights', and socialism is mostly 'obligations' (but usually someone else's, probably some oppressor of no color).

The only part of the book I didn't like was this definition of Usury.

It made usury almost entirely in the category of 'just price', whereas it's most commonly talked about as interest.

This didn't affect the underlying moral point, though.

Let's talk about worker, which Pesch does quite a bit, and with such love and care for the worker that you have to wonder why a politician hasn't just copy/pasted this stuff.

I mean, seriously? Is there a Trump speechwriter out there needing ideas?

Was Pesch a college conservative? Of course not, this is true, but it doesn't make sense without the follow-up of the rights and dignity of workers.

Interesting question.

A long snippet, but this is a good summary of a chunk of the book.

There's dignity and morality in work, employing people, etc. as long as we don't lose sight of justice and charity.

This is in a section describing incorrect views of Christianity and almsgiving. I liked it because it does seem to accurately describe other systems.

Hey there's that "put God first" theme again. It's almost as if Pesch were a Catholic priest.

The loss of a Christian nation leads to degeneration and despair.

"makes him want to set fire to the world", and many already are.

Can't fight socialism without a robust religious culture. Cocktail parties, magazines, and bad art aren't going to cut it.

Pesch isn't the first time I've heard this (for me it was in Redeeming Economics by Mueller), but this is a huge point for Catholics to grok. The deism, mechanism, and inevitability built in to liberalism led to Capitalism and Marx.

"the free operation of natural forces"

Pesch with the wit. Best read aloud in a mocking tone.

The point is well made. Mechanistic-only econ (and other sciences) are trying to dodge the moral questions. Looking at you, too, evolution.

One of the more succinct and good critiques of Capitalism. Big Tech, among others, are that very "reckless toward one's nation".

Can't bitch about Capitalism without also hitting Socialism.

It was a VERY small section on socialism. Pesch hits it for the obvious mechanical errors in theory, then reminds us that the equality premise is false. The rest falls apart from there.

Here's some more of that certified organic goodness of Pesch that hits both C and S.

Second to last one (thanks for sticking with it). What does Pesch see as the goal? What should we work towards?

Beware of people who don't believe this, but should.

This is basically the whole book summed up.