Ethics from Within: A Paradigm Shift for Financial Ethics

Pope Francis in his 2018 address to the Centesimus Annus Pro-Pontifice Foundation (FCAPP) stated that “the ethical dimension of social and economic interaction cannot be imported into social life and activity from without but must arise from within”, adding that we must overcome “the tragic and false dichotomy between the ethical teachings of our religious traditions and the practical concerns of to-day’s business community”.

The simple and inspiring words of the Pontiff point out a distinction between “ethics from within” and “ethics from outside” that is gaining prominence and recognition in the current discussion on ethics in finance. We believe that the concept of “ethics from within” marks a paradigm shift in the approach to financial ethics, and more broadly to business ethics.