Transcript Lecture 2: Happiness, Wealth and Poverty in Scripture

Dr. Ann T. Orlando
31 January 2013
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Contemporary Notions of Wealth and Poverty
Greek Philosophical Notions (i.e., Plato and
Aristotle)
Happiness, Wealth and Poverty in LXX
Happiness, Wealth and Poverty in NT
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Wealth is usually thought of materially: an
abundance of property, resources and money
Wealth can be applied to an individual, society,
nation
Typical measures of wealth
◦ An individual measure is ‘net worth,’ that is the sum of
all liquid and illiquid assets minus debts
◦ For nations a common measure is, GDP, gross domestic
product (GDP) is the market value of all goods and
services produced within a country in a given period
◦ Standard of living is often measured as GDP per capita
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Inclusive wealth: monetary measure which
includes the sum of
◦ Natural capital including land, forests, energy sources,
and minerals.
◦ Human capital, that is the population's education and
skills.
◦ Physical (or "manufactured") capital includes such things
as machinery, buildings, and infrastructure.
◦ Social capital, strength of a society’s institutions,
culture, relationships (families)
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Recent (2012) UN report begins with a
consideration of well-being as a (perhaps the)
most important component of the wealth of a
society http://www.unep.org/pdf/IWR_2012.pdf
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Usual definition is the state of one who lacks
a usual or socially acceptable amount of
money or material possessions
According to the US Census Bureau in 2011,
national averages for ‘poverty’ thresholds
are:
◦ $11,702 for an individual
◦ $26,404 for a family of two adults and 4 children
◦ See
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/data/th
reshld/index.html
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Very much in debate in American society
Minimum yearly income to be ‘wealthy’ (at least
for tax purposes)
◦ Democrats: $250,000 per year for a married couple
◦ Republicans: $1,000,000 per year for a married couple
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But ‘income’ can mean a variety of things (or
not), including salary, dividends, interest, social
security, pension distributions, sale of property
for a gain
Different taxes on different computations of
income
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Perception of wealth (or poverty) dependent on
society
Categories of material needs
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Confused with categories of material wants
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But our society and economy are built around
satisfying wants:
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◦ Economic resources (job and transportation) to provide
food, shelter, clothing for family
◦ If satisfied, then not poor
◦ Luxury car, fashion, gourmet food, vacation home,
entertainment
◦ If satisfied, then rich
◦ Consumer economy
◦ Example: actions of Federal Reserve
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Primarily discussed in The Republic, focused on
wealthy, poor and society
The Republic begins with two young men asking
Socrates why the just seem to be poor and unhappy,
while the wealthy are unjust and happy
Socrates claims both groups are unhappy, and
contribute to an unhappy society: W
◦ Wealth is the parent of luxury and indolence, and poverty of
meanness and viciousness, and both of unhappiness. Plato,
The Republic
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Plato (Socrates) suggests how to order society so that
all are happy, including
◦ Three fixed social classes (rulers, defenders, workers)
◦ All things held in common; no individual private property
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Aristotle addresses these issues primarily in The Politics
Agrees with Plato that there should be three fixed classes in
Society
Agrees that both excess wealth and extreme poverty lead to
unhappiness and a dysfunctional society
However, strongly disagrees that all material goods should be
held in common
◦ For that which is common to the greatest number has the least care
bestowed upon it. For everyone thinks chiefly of his own, hardly at all of
the common interest…The error of Socrates must be attributed to the false
notion of unity from which he starts.
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From this Aristotle strongly argues for the necessity of private
property, but as much as possible equally distributed
◦ But a city ought to be composed as far as possible, of equals and similars;
and these are generally the middle classes. Wherefore a city which is
constituted of middle-class citizens is best constituted.
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Distinguishes between
◦ Proper management of material possessions (economics)
such as household management
◦ Grabbing wealth (chrematistics) such as retail trade
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According to Aristotle, retail trade is unjust
because wealth is gained by manipulating prices
◦ Worst sort is usury in which money is made on money,
completely divorced form ‘natural’ price of goods
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But Aristotle does not believe all should have
exactly the same amount. Some according to
their merits (ability to manage), should have
greater material possessions; this is Aristotle’s
notion of distributive justice
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Wealth and poverty measured by attainment (or
not) of appropriate desires
Desires may be
◦ 1. Natural and necessary (basic food)
◦ 2. Natural and unnecessary (variety of gourmet food)
◦ 3. Unnatural and unnecessary (chocolate cake all the
time)
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A happy person is one who has material
possessions to satisfy the first type of desires
Property should not be held in common, at least
property which satisfies the first type of desire
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Not unlike Epicureans
Wealth is a hindrance to contemplation of
wisdom;
Very opposed to usury, as it seemed to be
making money out of ‘nothing’
But discouraged not only lenders but
borrowers
◦ One should be content with whatever Providence
has provided, and try to grasp for more by
borrowing
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Plousios abundant, wealthy, abounding; a rich
man
◦ Related concept of arrogance, uperephavos
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Ptochos poor, beggar, indigent
◦ Related concept of humble, tapainos
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Also penes, or working poor as in day
laborers for hire
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Land (as usual in antiquity) was basis for wealth
However, land ownership for people Israel was
because God allowed them to own the land
The land, Israel, fundamentally belongs to God,
not to any individual or even to the nation Israel;
this implies:
◦ Land itself must be treated with care, such as allowing
land to rest every 7 years (Exod. 23:10-11)
◦ Land could not be sold in perpetuity; had to revert to
original owner or next of kin at jubilee (Num 36:4)
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Mixed view of rich and poor
Individual rich and poor
◦ Rich enjoying God’s blessing as in Lev. 26:3-10; Prov.
10:22
◦ Poor suffer God’s judgment and punishment as in Lev.
26:14-26; Ps 109:10-11 and Prov. 13:18, 21, 25.
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Also corruption of powerful rich against
struggling poor, especially people Israel,
◦ Example story of Naboth, Ahab and Elijah (1 Kings 21)
◦ Prophets in general cry out against the unjust, powerful
rich
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Laborer is due a day’s wage and cannot be
withheld; Lev. 19:9-10; Sir 34:22
No partiality should be shown in law based on
wealth; Lev 19:19; Isa 10:1-2
No usury, also basic needs should never be
used to guarantee a loan, Exod 22:25-27
Gleanings from harvest must be left for poor
on the land Lev 19:9-10
Protection for poor who cannot help
themselves, such as widows and orphans
Exod 22:2; Ezek 22:7
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Property not important, or even desirable
Reversal of ‘happiness’ for rich and poor
Thus to be happy requires giving up riches
Voluntary poverty a sign of a Christian
Examine Acts 2 and 4
◦ Property held in common
◦ Deacons ‘ordained’ to administer property
◦ NAB correctly translated not that Christians
immediately sold all their property, but that they
began selling property and giving to the community
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Rich are called upon to share their goods
(Story of Rich Man and Lazarus, Luke 16:1931)
Riches as an obstacle to genuine love and
discipleship (Story of Rich Young Man, Mark
10:17-31)
God has special preference for humble poor
(Beatitudes, widow’s mite)
◦ Source of genuine happiness
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Luke 1
James
1Timothy 6
Brown, Through the Eye of a Needle, Chapter
1
Compendium of Catholic Social Doctrine,
170-183
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