A New Paradigm of Economics: Perspectives from Bernard Lonergan

June 19-20, 2009, Seton Hall University

For updated conference information click here.

“Cardinal Danielou speaks of the poor. It is a worthy topic, but I feel that the basic step in aiding them in a notable manner is a matter of spending one’s nights and days in  a deep and prolonged study of economic analysis.”

“The modern problem of justice in economic affairs is the non-existence of an intelligent and responsible account of economics.  The fundamental influence in political theory as in economic theory is Machiavelli….”
(Bernard Lonergan)

Bernard Lonergan (1904-1984), a Catholic theologian and philosopher, dedicated a great deal of his life to economic analysis.  Author of For a New Political Economy and Macroeconomic Dynamics: An Essay in Circulation Analysis, Lonergan felt that the fundamental issue in raising the standard of living was a correct understanding of what we are doing when we are engaged in economic activity. We tend to “step on the accelerator and the brake at the same time,” creating the booms and slumps that afflict the modern exchange economy.  This summit will consist in two parts:

1) a half-day presentation of the basics of Lonergan’s vision of the properly functioning economy;

2) a day and a half in which experts in Lonergan’s economics present their present research and needed areas of study and action.

Discussions on these papers will be taped and published with the papers.

For further information, please contact: Richard M. Liddy, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, 07079 – email: [email protected]

Call for Papers

This call for papers consists in the following:

1.        February 28, 2009:  A 500 word précis-proposal of a six-page single spaced paper to be presented at the conference. The précis should be sent to Richard M. Liddy, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, 07079 – email:  [email protected].

2.        Notification of acceptance of the paper will be given by March 30, 2009. A limit of twelve papers will be accepted.

3.        The paper itself will be due on May 30, 2009; it will be distributed to all the participants prior to the summit.

4.        At the summit itself, Friday-Saturday, June 19 and 20, 2009, participants will have a ½ hour to present the key points of their paper and some time to discuss the paper with other participants. Participants will be expected to have read each others’ papers before hand.

5.        Publication will be sought for these papers. Completed and amended papers will be due on September 30, 2009.