Book Signing in Dundalk, Ireland
On July 20, there was a book signing in Dundalk, Ireland near the border with Northern Ireland. It was the first stop of the book tour which will cover most of the island.
John Horvat II
What is the Purpose of Human Life?
Modern men would hold that the purpose of life is to possess and enjoy an abundance of material goods. Such a materialistic view of life is to make economics the primary concern of men. Saint Thomas Aquinas holds that the purpose of human life in an organic Christian society is much different. The individual has … Read more
From the Mail: Is There a Conspiracy?
I received an email with a very interesting question from a reader of Return to Order. It occurred to me that others might have similar questions. The question can be summed up like this: Have you seriously considered the possibility of a web of conspiracy behind our visible government that directs many of the financial … Read more
When Choice Hurts
Many people revel in the fact that they enjoy unlimited choices, especially in expanding possibilities using the Internet. These choices seem to make all the world accessible. However, the human mind is not made to deal with such a vast array of choices. It often causes overload and frustration. “Unlimited choice,” notes sociologists Barry Schwatz, … Read more
Praise for Return to Order — The Most Reverend John C. Nienstedt
By calling the reader to embrace the cardinal virtues of temperance, justice, prudence and fortitude, Return to Order suggests a practical pathway to avoid the economic and spiritual crises that are looming before us and, by means of religious conversion, reestablish a right order for human flourishing. I hope that this work will receive the … Read more
Standardizing Both Products and Consumers
The simple fact is that mass standardization can only be profitable to the point that it can aggregate consumers into large blocs. Hence, global markets must impose universal standardization upon products, for if this brand of economics is to survive as an exact deductive science to interpret markets, everything must be quantified. There is no … Read more
How Should We Judge Products?
In a society where money rules the criteria to judge products often revolves around quantity and costs. The number of units matters much more than the quality of product. Mass production means much more than craftsmanship. Historian Carlo Cipolla finds such criteria to be deficient. He notes: “But if one states simply that the average … Read more
Talk in Grand Rapids: “When Caesar Wants What Isn’t His”
As part of the Fortnight for Freedom talk series for the diocese of Grand Rapids, Mich., author John Horvat delivered an evening address to a large crowd at the city’s St. Isidore’s Catholic Church. The event was co-sponsored by St. Isidore’s parish, St. Thomas the Apostle’s parish and the Acton Institute, all in Grand Rapids. … Read more
With “Return to Order” on Fifth Avenue
We had a long discussion on how to market the book, Return to Order: From a Frenzied Economy to an Organic Christian Society—Where We’ve Been, How We Got Here and Where We Need to Go. One thing we decided was that we couldn’t afford an expensive Madison Avenue advertising firm to get the message out … Read more
American TFP: Court’s Decisions Must Strengthen Pro-Family Resolve
The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) has issued the following statement about the June 26, 2013 Supreme Court’s decisions on same-sex “marriage”: The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) strongly decries the June 26, 2013 Supreme Court decisions on aspects of same-sex “marriage.” The … Read more