Introduction:ArchitectonicCritiqueandContext Aproperlythorougharchitectoniccritiqueofthepresentneoliberaleconomicsystemwould necessarilyinvolveaninvestigationofmanyextraeconomicelements.Sincesociological,political, philosophicalandtheodramtic1elementsallcontributetothepresenteconomicarchitecture,thefull critiqueoftheeconomicaspectcannotoccurinisolationwithoutriskingthepresentationofamyopic view.However,withthisriskofmyopiarecognized,itisstillsuitabletospecificallyaddresseconomics itselfsincethebulkofthecritiqueis,atleasthypothetically,economic. TeleologyRevisited:ConfessionalandEconomicConcerns ItwillcertainlyseemunnaturaltosometointroduceteleologyintotheKuyperianframework. Afterall,Kuyper,DooyeweerdandmanyothershavemaintainedaseparationbetweentheReformed socialtheoryfromCatholicsocialteachingwithitsrootsinAristotleandPlato.2 Thisconcernshouldnotbetakenlightly.TherecentincreaseincooperationbetweenKuyperiansand Catholicsonapracticallevel3hasnotshiftedthefundamentaltheoreticaldisagreements.Therefore, teleologywillbepreliminarilyrestructuredtobecompatiblewiththeKuyperianframeworkbeforeitis appliedtotheeconomicproblemasthecentraltoolofcritique.

Anotherconcernistheroleofteleologicalargumentsineconomics.Sincethescientific revolution,teleologicalelementshavebeenrelegatedtometaphysicalratherthanscientificquestionsand thereforearenotintuitivelyappropriateforadisciplineasscientificasmoderneconomics.4Most analysisofthevalidityofoneeconomictheoryoveranothermaybetracedbacktoargumentsaboutthe relationshipoftheorytoempiricaldataandviceversa. Ofcourse,thisdualismbetweenthenaturalandthemoralisnottolerabletoKuyperianswho confessChristsunifyinglordship.However,themoralandteleologicalcritiquesinthehistoryof economicsareunavoidable.AsRoyClouserhasshown,notheories,includingtheoriesrelatingto economics,aremorallyneutral.5Forexample,oneofF.A.HayekscomplaintsagainstKeynesianism

1

KevinVanhoozer,TheDramaofDoctrine:ACanonicalLinguisticApproachtoChristianTheology.(Louiville,KY2005).The

termtheodramaticreferstoawayofviewingtheworldthroughthetheatricalmetaphorinwhichGodistheplaywrightand creationisthestage.Inthislight,economicexchangemightbeviewedasasubplot,withasmallplacewithinthebroader theologicaldramaticnarrative. 2 AlthoughKuypersaidthattherobustnessofcatholicsocialteachingwassomethingforReformedpeopletoaspireto(Michael Novak,Markets&Morality2002).

3

See,forexample,MichaelNovaksHumanDignity,PersonalLiberty:ThemesfromAbrahamKuyperandLeoXIII.(Grand

Rapids,Vol.5,No.1Spring2002),13.Also,StephenV.Monsma,PluralismandFreedom:FaithBasedOrganizationsina DemocraticSociety.(Rowman&Littlefield,2012),128138.
4 5

MiltonFriedman,TheMethodologyofPositiveEconomics.Chicago,IL:UniversityofChicagoPress,1966. RoyClouser,TheMythofReligiousNeutrality:AnEssayontheHiddenRoleofReligiousBeliefinTheories.(NotreDame:

UniversityofNotreDamePress,2005),4.

wasitscollectivistimpulse.6Keynesinturnexpressedmoralaversionattheplebeianimpulseofthrift.7 Thesemoralargumentsareessentiallyteleological.HayekscomplaintisthatKeynesianismdrives towardtheendofcollectivism.Keynesaversiontothriftwasnotirrational,butwasdrivenbywhathe viewedasthechaoticendofaneconomysoconstituted.NowhereisKeynesutopianidealfora plannedeconomymoreevidentthaninthisworkTheEconomicPossibilitiesofourGrandchildren. Again,itisclearthatateleologynecessarilyexists,butitisnotinformedbythetruthofChristianity. SohowmightaKuyperianallowformoralitytoplayapart?Thereisnoneutralposition. Kuypersanswertowhichmorality?issimple:theconfessionalmoralityrequiredbytheChristianityof theBible.8ButChristianityseemstobeoftenataloss:thereisadisconnectbetweenthelargely deontologicalethicsofthehistoricReformedfaithandtheteleologicalvisionnecessaryforeconomics. TheNecessityofTeleology Theteleologicalquestionforeconomicsisaboutthegoodovertheright.AsMaxL. Stackhousehassaid,thesequestionsareattheveryheartofphilosophicaltheology.Theproblemis this:therightandthegoodmustbothbefulfilledandjoinedtogetherforafulljustice,butinhuman thoughtaswellasinhumanactions,theyrarelyare.9 Ateveryscale,economicsisaboutchoicesbetweenmanygoods.Thedeontologicalelementin theeconomicchoicesandcontractsthatpeoplemakeiscriticalbutnotexhaustive.Teleologycanhelp fillinthemissinginformation:forexample,byguidingusonwhichcontractstotake,orhowmonetary policycanbestructured.Thosekindsofquestionscannotbeansweredwithdontdoitorwith howeveryoufeel.Wedonotwanttoconductmonetarypolicybasedonadhocdecisionsrather,it mustbeguidedbyateleologicalvision.Theremustbeadifferentkindofapproachthatcaninclude endswithinthetheoreticalmoralframework,withoutdissolvingintorawutilitarianism. Teleologicalethicsisthestudyoftherelationshipbetweenanobjectandtheendsitought 10 pursue. Itiseasytoseehowthisappliestotheproblemwiththemoreopenendedethicalquestions andendsthefalsedilemmaofeitherdonotdoXoritdoesnotmatterhowyoudoX.For questionsthatseemsingularlydeontological(ShouldIcommitmurder?)teleologysaysyououghtnot

F.A.Hayek,EnricoBarone.CollectivistEconomicPlanning.(London:Routledge&KeganPaul,LTD.).ThoughpartofHayeks projectwastheseparationofnormativeandpositiveeconomics,themoralelementwasstillpresent. 7 J.M.Keynes,AShortViewofRussia.1972,p269....thesocialappealtothehoardinginstinctasthefoundationofthe necessaryprovisionthefamilyandthefuture.again,seecomment.Notnecessarilyamoralargument. 8 WhenaddressingtheGermanscholarRudolphvonJhering,asocialutilitarian,KuyperaccuseshimnotofdenyingGod,but departingfromtheChristianethicbecauseheremovesGodastheteleologicalagentofmorality.JamesBratt,trans.Abraham Kuyper:ACentennialReader,AbrahamKuyper,TheBlurringoftheBoundaries,(GrandRapids:ThePaternosterPress,1998), 379. 9 MaxL.Stackhouse,CovenantalJusticeinaGlobalEra.InstituteforReformedTheology.<www.reformedtheology.org>. 10 FromAristotleandPlatohttp://secure.pdcnet.org/philtopics/content/philtopics_1987_0015_0002_0035_0050//Thisis
actuallythethrustofthatMaxStackhousequote.Itsabouthowdoyouethicallyreachtheend/telosthatyouarepursuing.

pursuethoseends.Forquestionsthatareindeterminate(ShouldIwearredorbluetoday,)teleology saysthateitherwouldbeaproperendtopursue.Thisdesignationofeitherendisproperisdifferent fromdeontologyseitheractionisnotwrong.Thereisapositivityinteleologythatmakesethics involvedintheGoodinawaythatdeontologynevercanalone. However,toimportteleologywithoutalterationwouldbetoinviteaforeignbodyintothe Kuyperiansystem.Teleologyisthenaturalprovenanceofclassical,medievalandscholasticrevivalists. Tobeabletointellectuallyjustifytheventure,onemustrediscoverteleologygrowingnaturallyinthesoil ofReformedpresuppositions.OnefeaturethatisparticularlynotableinnonKuyperianteleologyisits dualism,whichdividesobjectsbetweenformandmatter.Ofcourse,thesedivisionsrangefromradical PlatonicteleologicaldualismtomoremoderateAristotelianteleologicaldualismbutineithercasethe divideispresent.KuyperianismcannotaccommodatethisteleologyyetbecauseChristianityrequiresa carefulunitythatavoidsbothuniformityanddualism.11Kuyperfamouslycalleduniformitythecurseof modernlifebecauseitisfundamentallyaperversionofthetrueunitythatisonlyfoundinGod.12 Dualism,ofcourse,isalsoagainsttheChristianideasinceChristHimself,byHisincarnation,istheunity ofallthings,metaphysicalandmaterial.13 Spheresovereigntyisabletogivetheconceptuallinkbetweenthetwokindsoftheory.Inthe Reformedworldview,theKuyperianspheresreachtowardsselfestablishedends.14Thereisaunityin threerespects.First,bothendsandmeansarepreestablishedbyGodhimself,sothereisaunityof authorship.15Second,allendsarrivewiththeirmeansintowtoculminateintooneend,thegloryofGod (soliDeogloria),sothereisaunityoffinaleffect.Third,theseendsarepartoftheorganichistorical unfoldingofthespheres.16Asasphereinstantiatesbydifferentiatingfromsociety,itformsitsownends. 17 Thisisaunityofmaterialthatisnotpossibleintheoriginal,dualistic,teleologicalschemes.The KuyperiandriveforunityexposesthenonChristianerrorofdualism.18WithKuyperianSphere Sovereigntyrightlyrecastinanewteleologicallight,oneisleftwithaconceptualtoolthatmaysolve dualisticpuzzles.Economicshasaverycleardualisticpuzzle:thedivisionbetweenmicroeconomicsand

11

Alldualismsrundirectlycountertothedemandsofthethoughtprocess,foritcanrestonitslaurelsonlywheneverything, withoutexception,issubsumedunderasingleconcept.JamesBratt,trans.AbrahamKuyper:ACentennialReader,Abraham Kuyper,TheBlurringoftheBoundaries,(GrandRapids:ThePaternosterPress,1998),374.

12

Kuyper,Abraham,andJamesD.Bratt.AbrahamKuyper:ACentennialReader.GrandRapids, MI:W.B.Eerdmans,1998.Print.2021 13 Andheisbeforeallthings,andinhimallthingsholdtogether.Colossians1:17ESV

14 15

AbrahamKuyer,LecturesonCalvinism(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1931),9091. AbrahamKuyer,LecturesonCalvinism(GrandRapids:Eerdmans,1931),8485 16 Chaplin,Jonathan.HermanDooyeweerd:ChristianPhilosopherofStateandCivilSociety.Notre

Dame,IN:UniversityofNotreDame,2011.Print.8687
17 18

Ibid JohnFrame.CorneliusVanTil:AnAnalysisofHisThought.(Phillipsburg:P&R1995).234.VanTilsrational/irrationaldialectic

articulateshownonChristiansarepronetofalsedualism.ItshowsthatnonChristiansbelieveindividualthoughtisunifyingthe criterionoftruth.Yetatthesametimethisrationalityexistsinauniversethatisbasedonchanceoralessthanperfectlyordered God.Dualismcan,inthenonChristianthoughtsystem,rununcheckedbecausethebasisforunityunderGodisnonexistent.

macroeconomics.19 PremonitionsofUnity ItwasnotuntilthenewemphasisonrationalexpectationsandNeoKeynesianismaround60 yearslaterthatamovetowardsgreaterunitywasadvanced.20 Evenso,theNeoClassicalsynthesiscontinuesalmostunchangedevenaftertheeconomiccrisis,and dualismremains.Thecrisispromptedmanytoquestionthefundamentalarchitectureoftheeconomy, butfewanswerstothetheoreticalproblemhavebeenraised,withthemostpopularanswerproposing impossibilitieslikehavingmoreethicalpeoplemanagethemoney. ThisisaclearplacethatKuyperianscanbeaheadofthecurveindiagnosingtheproblemof conceptualdualismandworkingonasolutionofunitythroughspheresovereigntyteleology.The NeoClassicalsynthesissuffersadisadvantageandanadvantage.Itisdisadvantagedinthatthe narrowlyempiricalresearchappropriatetotheirdisciplinecannot,inprinciple,consideralternativesuntil aKhunianrevolutionoccursbecauseoftheabsenceofphilosophicalreflection.Theadvantage, however,isthattheempiricalproblemsaKuyperianeconomistmightoffercanberecognizedbythe NeoClassicistbecauseofthecommonacceptanceofempiricalevidence. OneplacetostartwouldbetheAustrianSchoolofeconomics.Althoughmanyoftheir conclusionsandmethodsmightbeempiricallysuspectand,originally,theymaintainedtheunityof economictheorybylargelyignoringthemacroeconomicaspect,therehasbeenarecentmovementin theschooltoconsidermacroeconomicquestionsandtheirsocalledmicrofoundations.21 Whetherthespecificsofthisprojectaresuccessfulisforpeoplewiserthantheauthorstodiscuss,but themethod,goalanddesireareappropriatetotheneedforunityineconomics. ActualApplicationofKuyperianTeleology:Policy TeleologicalSphereSovereigntycritiquesbothKeynesiansandlibertarians.Onthequestionof growth,bothcriticismsareaboutindividualism.Ourteleologicaltheorycriticizeshyperindividualismin Keynesfocusontheshortrun.AsJohnMaynardKeyneshimselfputit,inthelongrun,wereall dead.22 Discussionoflongrunequilibriaisirrelevant,forKeynes,becauseoftheindeterminacyofwhenthat

19
20

G.ChrisRodrigo,MicroandMacro:TheEconomicDivide.IMF:Finance&Development.March28,2012.<www.imf.org>. RationalExpectationsandNeoKeynesianAnalysis//OliverCayla,JeanLouisHalperin,Eds.Dictionnairedesgrandesoeuvres juridiques.PeterHowitt,OnKeynsianEconomicsandtheEconomicsofKeynes:AStudyinMonetaryTheory.(France: DallozSirey,2010).http://www.econ.brown.edu/fac/Peter_Howitt/publication/Dalloz.pdf 21 MicrofoundationsandMacroeconomicsandTimeandMoneybyHorwitzandGarrisonrespectively 22 JohnM.Keynes.ATractonMonetaryReform(1923)Ch.3Thelongrunisamisleadingguidetocurrentaffairs.Inthelongrun wearealldead.Economistssetthemselvestooeasy,toouselessataskifintempestuousseasonstheycanonlytellusthat whenthestormispasttheoceanisflatagain.

longrunarrivesandtheavoidablecostoftheinterveningdisequilibrium.ForKeynes,theindividual nowistheprimaryethicalunit.ForKuyperians,theindividual,thefamily,thenationandallthespheres extendthroughtimeandhavedignity.Thisisthebiblicalstanceemanatingfromthenotionofproviding aninheritance.23Therefore,KeynesviewisatoddswithaKuyperianvision,whichwouldpresumably viewlongrungrowthasamoreproperend. AlthoughlibertariansmightbeexcitedaboutKuyperiansupportforverylongrungrowthinstead ofshortrunmeddling,thelibertarianemphasisontheindividualisalsoaproblem.Oppositionto governmentintervention,asafunctionofindividualism,istheentrypointforlibertariansupportoflong rungrowth.Adirecttelosofnationallongrungrowth,withanemphasisoninstitutionsover hyperindividualism,istheentrypointforKuyperiansupportofsimilarpolicies.Therefore,while shortruncorrectiveshocksmightmakecommongroundbetweenKuyperiansandLibertarians, Kuyperianwillingnesstofundprojectsthatbenefitlongrungrowthwithgovernmentmoney,like education,researchgrantsandinfrastructure,meanstherecannotbeasimplyunitedfrontoneconomic policybetweenthetwoparties. ActualApplicationofKuyperianTeleology:PracticingEconomics TheSphereSovereigntyofeconomicexchangeisdisplayedbytheruleoflawupholding economiccontracts.Certainlythisaspectofjusticeinsovereigntyisoneimportantaspectofthetelosof practicaleconomics. ThreeaspectsfortheindividualtoconsiderarethoseofStewardship,ProvidenceandBlessing.They alloweconomicexchangestobecharacterizedbymorethanIdidntdothewrongthing.Every exchangeisanexerciseinstewardingresourcesGodhasentrustedtous.ByHisProvidenceHe deliverstheseresourcestousforstewardingandstewardingitselfisaspecialinstrumentofHis Providence.Andonemustnotforgetthateventhemonetarygaintheindividualreceivesthroughthis processispartofGodsworkofblessing.24ByHissovereigntyovereconomics,theopportunity,the eventitselfanditsrewardsarealltobeproperlycelebratedasgraciousgifts. NotethatGodsdivinecoordinationofeconomicsisbyHismysteriousworkofProvidenceandnotby arationalruleorfiat(thoughtheseplaytheirpart).Inthisway,thetelosofindividualsisexante indeterminatebutexpostguidedbythesethreeendsGodissecuring(Stewardship,Providenceand Blessing)byHisSpirit.

23

Agoodmanleavesaninheritancetohischildren'schildren,butthesinner'swealthislaidupfortherighteous.Proverbs 13:22ESV. 24 YoushallremembertheLORDyourGod,foritishewhogivesyoupowertogetwealth,thathemayconfirmhiscovenantthat hesworetoyourfathers,asitisthisday.(Deuteronomy8:18,ESV)

Conclusion Moderncapitalismsuffersfromanincoherenceproblembornofoverpragmatismthispresentsan opportunityforKuyperiansarmedwithateleologicaleconomicvisiontocontributetothewider discussiononeconomics.Nevertheless,itisnotadifferenteconomicsystembutacapitalism reconsideredwiththerightendsinmindtowardswhichKuyperiansshoulddevotetheirenergy. Ontheeconomicpolicysideofthesituation,thepriorityofinstitutionsoverindividualsmeansrejection ofboththeshortrunfocusofKeynesianismandtheindividualisticfocusoflibertarianism.Practically, thismeansthatthestatedoesnotattempttomicromanagetheshortruneconomywithbailouts, quantitativeeasing,stimulus,taxcutsandmanipulativemonetarypolicybutinsteadfocusesonlongrun growth.Butatthesametime,thestatemayactivelyencourageinstitutionsthatcontributetolongrun growth,likehighereducationandscientificresearch,contrarytothelibertarianvision. Asfarastheorganicnatureofrealeconomicsinitselfisconcerned,themovementofeconomicgains andlossesoverthecourseofhistoryisguidedbyGod,towardanendthatisforHisglory.The participationofpeopleasinthisprocessisguidednotonlybytheologicalethics,whichhelpinform individualsandinstitutionstomakerighteousexchanges,butalsothebroaderteleologicalvisionofa coherent,unifiedend. Inthisway,thefreedomofeconomiclifetosprawlorganicallyaccordingtoProvidenceandthe longrunvisionofgovernmenteconomicpolicycomplementoneanotherinteleologicalSphere Sovereignty.Whilesuchanendorendsmightseeminappropriatelyindeterminatetostandard teleology,thedesiretobringGodgloryandallowtheunfoldingofHiseconomicorganizationiscertainly legitimateasafixedendtobepursued. Asafinalnote,thereisnothinginthispaperthatsuggeststhateconomicinterventioninsocialproblems throughpartiallyeconomicassistance,suchasentitlementprogramsorwelfare,aredelegitimizedbythis admittedlystrictviewoftheStatesroleineconomicactivity.Astructureofprogressivebenefitsfor certainclassesisarelatedbutultimatelyseparatematter.Thedesireforamoreequalsocietycombined withaviewofeconomicsthatfindsthehumanindeterminacyoftheitsendshiddeninthedivine determinacyofProvidenceisnotultimatelycontradictory. WehopewehaveexplicatedsomethoughtsonKuyperianviewsofeconomicsandreinvigoratedsome discussiononthejustificationofspheresovereignty.Thereisclearlymoreresearchtobedoneonthis conversionofclassicalteleologyintoReformedteleology,butwehopeithasbeendemonstratedthat therichnessoftheteleologicalmoralvisionismoreappropriatefortherichintricaciesofeconomic

policyquestions.