Catholicism, Protestantism, and Capitalism

This classic work is an exhaustive philosophical, historical, and religious look at the relationship between Catholic and Protestant religious doctrine and both the historical and ideological growth of capitalism. Starting with a definition of capitalism, Fanfani examines how that definition squares with Catholic and Protestant teaching. He then looks at the historical development of the capitalistic mindset or mentality, and examines the growth of the mindset historically in light of both the Protestant and Catholic doctrine on economic life. This text will be of interest to all students of economic thought, philosophy, and Catholic or Christian studies.

Amintore Fanfani was an Italian politician who served as prime minister of Italy six times and president of the United Nations General Assembly (1965). A professor of political economics, he was nominated a life senator in 1972 and became president of the Italian Senate. He was a member of the Christian Democratic Party. He died in Rome on November 21, 1999. Dr. Charles M. A. Clark is a professor of economics at Tobin College of Business, St. John's University. Dr. Giorgio Campanini is professor of the history of political thought at the University of Parma, Italy. He has written several books on political and ethical subjects, including the Catholic political thought of the 19th and 20th centuries (covering figures such as Rosmini, Mounier, Maritain, Sturzo, and Mazzolari). He is the author of The Burden of the Camel: The Christian Between Wealth and Poverty.