Is It Good to Feel Good About Yourself?

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A little self discipline would go a long way. I think it's a disaster that we've pushed that so hard in the schools. A caviot, when we're talking about already developed, western, developed economies. Economic growth is clearly very good for for impoverished countries coming out of poverty. But when i think when you pursuet as an end in itself, you end up with a lot more stuff and a lot less genuine human flourishing. Genuine human meaning genuine human purpose.

Author, economist, and theologian Mary Hirschfeld of Villanova University talks about her book, Aquinas and the Market, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Hirschfeld looks at the nature of our economic activity as buyers and sellers and whether our pursuit of economic growth and material well-being comes at a cost. She encourages a skeptical stance about the ability of more stuff to produce true happiness and/or satisfaction. The conversation includes a critique of economic theory and the aspect of human satisfaction outside the domain of economists.