The Institute for Human Ecology

Human flourishing illuminated by Catholic social doctrine.

play-button

Freedom

The foundation of human flourishing.

"The freedom of the individual finds its basis in man's transcendent dignity . . ." - Pope John Paul II, Message for World Day of Peace, 1981

Family

The fundamental social unit of a healthy, functioning society.

"The family may be regarded as the cradle of civil society . . . " - Pope Leo XIII, Sapientiae Christianae

Economy

The intersection of free enterprise and ingenuity ordered towards human flourishing.

"It is . . . an error to say that the economic and moral orders are so distinct from and alien to each other that the former depends in no way on the latter." - Pope Pius XI, Quadragesimo Anno

Culture

The driving force behind the way we form human relationships.

"Human beings interpret and shape the natural environment through culture, which in turn is given direction by the responsible use of freedom, in accordance with the dictates of the moral law." - Pope Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate

Learn more about our Master of Arts in Human Rights Program

READ MORE

Latest News

The European Slide Toward Irrelevance

June 10, 2019
, , , News
Elections for the European parliament, regardless of the results, are always a celebration of the EU project. Blue flags with the 12 golden stars are omnipresent when a “European electorate” casts its vote in what is considered the largest election in the world outside India. But the most recent elections are important for a different reason: They are part of a longer trend that is pushing Europe toward global irrelevance.
Read More

Exploring Wonder and Beauty in the Scientific World

June 5, 2019
News
How do aesthetic factors such as beauty, awe, and wonder shape the practice of science? Are such experiences help or hindrance to scientific progress? And do they vary across disciplines and national cultures? IHE Fellow Brandon Vaidyanathan, along with others, addressed these questions during the International Symposium on the Aesthetic Dimensions of Science.
Read More

A Meaningful Life

May 24, 2019
, News 1
For years I have taught The Apology in my introductory philosophy class. Every year, some students hate Socrates. One year, one of my students found Socrates particularly annoying. As we were working through the text, she slammed her book down in frustration.
Read More

Upcoming Events

MORE UPCOMING EVENTS
SEE PAST EVENTS

Civitas Dei Summer Fellowship

The Person, the Polis, and the Search for Happiness

The Institute for Human Ecology and the Thomistic Institute
Civitas Dei Summer Fellowship for Graduate Students in the Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities

The Civitas Dei Summer Fellowship supports rising scholars seeking to better understand the Catholic intellectual tradition. Open to all qualified graduate students and advanced undergraduates. The costs to attend the Civitas Dei Fellowship program (including lodging and reasonable travel expenses) are covered by the sponsors.

Registration for 2019 is now closed. Check back regularly for 2020 information.

Washington, DC
July 7-12, 2019

READ MORE

Get our Email Updates

Ideas, news, and event invitations, delivered to your inbox.

Featured Fellows

Reinhard Hütter, Ph.D.

Ordinary Professor of Fundamental and Dogmatic Theology, The Catholic University of America

Expertise: Theological Anthropology, Systematic Theology, Thomistic Thought
  ·     ·  

Beatriz Lopez-Bonetti

Media Fellow for The Institute for Human Ecology

Director of Public Relations for the Busch School of Business and Economics.
  ·  

V. Bradley Lewis, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Philosophy, The Catholic University of America

Expertise: Political Philosophy, Jurisprudence, Ethics
  ·     ·  

Maximilian B. Torres, Jr. Ph.D., J.D.

Centesimus Annus Della Ratta Family Endowed Professor and Clinical Associate Professor of Business, The Catholic University of America

Expertise: Virtue Ethics in Business, Ethical Decision-Making in Organizations, Catholic Social Teaching
  ·     ·  
VIEW ALL OF OUR FELLOWS

A Catechism for Business

A Catechism for Business draws together the Church’s social doctrine on business, organized by topic and question. It serves as a reference guide for Catholic business leaders who wish to deepen their faith and grow in their understanding of Catholic social doctrine as applied to business.

“A Catechism for Business fills a critical need in today’s complex world, where moral answers to questions are not always clear-cut. This well-organized and concise book is an absolute must for business people and policy makers ‘in the trenches’ as well as for academics, and even theologians focused on the common good.”

– Luanne Zurlo, Founder and former President and Executive Director, WorldFund

BUY NOW