Art, spirituality and economics : Liber Amicorum for Laszlo Zsolnai

Abstract

This volume celebrates the work of Laszlo Zsolnai, a leading researcher and scholar in the field of the ethical and spiritual aspects of economic life, who has made significant contributions to the connection between ethics, spirituality, aesthetics and economic theory. The book offers a selection of essays concerned with the ethical, spiritual and aesthetic context within which economics as a social studies discipline should be situated in order to avoid the sort of dehumanising consequences that theories based on utility maximisation and rational choice necessarily entail. It presents the economic activities of human beings not as some sort of preordained obedience to universal laws that operate independently of other human concerns, but, rather, as a part of the human desire for the Aristotelian good life. It looks at the various considerations -moral, spiritual and aesthetic - that take part in the formation of economic decisions in sharp contrast with theories that purport to explain economic phenomena solely on the basis of utility maximisation. Intro; Contents; About the Authors; Part I: Introduction; Chapter 1: Laszlo Zsolnai, Friend and Moral Scientist; References; Part II: The Power of Art; Chapter 2: The Essential, the Beautiful and the Economic: The Brotzeit by Eduard Grützner and Zsolnai's Philosophy; 2.1 An Evening in Leuven; 2.2 Everything in Its Place; 2.3 The Essential, the Beautiful and the Economic; 2.4 Projections; References; Chapter 3: The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci and the Links to Food, Conviviality, Sharing, and Spirituality; References; Chapter 4: A Dog. Just a Dog; Chapter 5: The Light of the World. 5.1 Introduction5.2 The Light of the World; 5.3 The Light of Faith; 5.4 Light and Contemplation; 5.5 Conclusion; References; Chapter 6: Friedensreich Hundertwasser -- The Five Skins of the Ecological Man; 6.1 Introduction; 6.2 Change Maker; 6.3 The Five Skins; 6.4 The First Skin: Epidermis -- Learning from Nature; 6.5 The Second Skin: Clothing -- Creativity; 6.6 The Third Skin: Man's House -- Eco-technology; 6.7 The Fourth Skin: The Social Environment and Identity -- Visions; 6.8 The Fifth Skin: The Global Environment, Ecology and Mankind -- Peace Treaty. 6.9 Concluding Remarks -- The Five Skins of the Ecological ManReferences; Chapter 7: Antarctica -- Nature's Awesome Artwork; 7.1 History of Antarctica; 7.1.1 The 'Discovery' of Antarctica; 7.2 The Heroic Age of Exploration 1897-1917; 7.3 The Mechanical Age; 7.4 Political History; 7.5 Population Dynamics of Antarctica; 7.6 Human Impacts on Antarctica; 7.7 Global Impacts of the Industrial World; 7.8 Impacts of Exploitation, Hunting and Fishing; 7.9 Pollution Impacts of Visitors; 7.10 Undoing Past Damage; 7.11 Conclusions; References; Sources. Chapter 8: Az Öreg Halász (The Old Fisherman): An Essay for Zsolnai László8.1 The Subject Matter of Eeconomics; 8.2 Value-Commitment; 8.3 Methodology; References; Part III: Beyond Rational Ethics; Chapter 9: From Ethics to Spirituality: Laszlo Zsolnai on Human Motivations; 9.1 Systems, Organizations and Persons; 9.2 The Self as Theoretical and Practical Problem; 9.3 Why to Be Ethical? Moral Motivations and the Foundations of Ethics; 9.4 Conclusion; References; Chapter 10: Angels from the Future. The Voice of Coming Generations; 10.1 Defining Angels. The Annunciation as a Paradigmatic Story. 10.2 The Enigmatic Presence of Future Generations10.3 Three Ways of Thinking the Future; 10.4 Presencing the Future; 10.5 Some Final Remarks; References; Chapter 11: The Aesthetics of Energy Resilience; 11.1 Introduction -- Resilient Sustainable Energy Systems; 11.2 Aesthetics of Energy Systems; 11.3 Energy Supply Chain and Aesthetic Value-Added Framework; 11.3.1 Efficiency; 11.3.2 Standards and Best Practices; 11.3.3 Empowering Change; 11.3.4 Energy Portfolio Balance; 11.3.5 Aesthetic Ethic; 11.3.6 Holistic View.