Leonardus Lessius
Encyclopedia
Leonardus Lessius was a Jesuit moral theologian
and a pioneer in business ethics
.
under Suarez
and Robert Bellarmine
, he became professor of theology
at the University of Louvain. In his early teaching years, he was involved in the predestination
theological debate that was raging in Leuven
in 1587-88 (against Baianism
). In 1615 Pope Paul V thanked him personally for the services rendered to the Catholic Church.
questions. Lessius went to Antwerp, then a world business centre in rapid expansion, to study how banking and commerce
were functioning. His experience gave weight to his ethical solutions to moral cases dealing with business and finance. He has been praised by modern historians of economics
for the subtlety of its understanding of business matters involving interest
. For example Lessius clearly states the dependence of the price of an insurance
contract on the risk
of the event insured against. Among other things he gave guidelines for a new ‘just price’ approach, accepting the fact that what was proposed by Thomas Aquinas
was no longer workable in the 16th century.
His work On the Providence of the Deity, and the Immortality of the Soul, Against Atheists and Politicians, containing design arguments
for the existence of God
, was translated into English in 1631 under the title Rawleigh his Ghost.
From 1610 on, and already in poor health, he turned towards writing ascetical and theological books that had also much success.
. His simple tomb is located in the baptistry, just to the north of the apse
. Previously, he was interred at the nearby Jesuit college.
Moral theology
Moral theology is a systematic theological treatment of Christian ethics. It is usually taught on Divinity faculties as a part of the basic curriculum.- External links :*...
and a pioneer in business ethics
Business ethics
Business ethics is a form of applied ethics or professional ethics that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that arise in a business environment. It applies to all aspects of business conduct and is relevant to the conduct of individuals and entire organizations.Business...
.
Life
He joined the Jesuits in 1572, and after theological studies in RomeRome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
under Suarez
Francisco Suárez
Francisco Suárez was a Spanish Jesuit priest, philosopher and theologian, one of the leading figures of the School of Salamanca movement, and generally regarded among the greatest scholastics after Thomas Aquinas....
and Robert Bellarmine
Robert Bellarmine
Robert Bellarmine was an Italian Jesuit and a Cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was one of the most important figures in the Counter-Reformation...
, he became professor of theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at the University of Louvain. In his early teaching years, he was involved in the predestination
Predestination
Predestination, in theology is the doctrine that all events have been willed by God. John Calvin interpreted biblical predestination to mean that God willed eternal damnation for some people and salvation for others...
theological debate that was raging in Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
in 1587-88 (against Baianism
Baianism
Baianism is a term applied to the theology of Catholic theologian Michael Baius . It claims thorough Augustinianism over the scholasticism which held sway over most Catholic theologians at the time...
). In 1615 Pope Paul V thanked him personally for the services rendered to the Catholic Church.
Works
Lessius is now best known for his treatise De iustitia et iure (On justice and law), of 1605 that went through more than 20 editions in the 17th century alone. It is probably the first in-depth moral theological approach to economic and financialFINANCIAL
FINANCIAL is the weekly English-language newspaper with offices in Tbilisi, Georgia and Kiev, Ukraine. Published by Intelligence Group LLC, FINANCIAL is focused on opinion leaders and top business decision-makers; It's about world’s largest companies, investing, careers, and small business. It is...
questions. Lessius went to Antwerp, then a world business centre in rapid expansion, to study how banking and commerce
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
were functioning. His experience gave weight to his ethical solutions to moral cases dealing with business and finance. He has been praised by modern historians of economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
for the subtlety of its understanding of business matters involving interest
Interest
Interest is a fee paid by a borrower of assets to the owner as a form of compensation for the use of the assets. It is most commonly the price paid for the use of borrowed money, or money earned by deposited funds....
. For example Lessius clearly states the dependence of the price of an insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
contract on the risk
Risk
Risk is the potential that a chosen action or activity will lead to a loss . The notion implies that a choice having an influence on the outcome exists . Potential losses themselves may also be called "risks"...
of the event insured against. Among other things he gave guidelines for a new ‘just price’ approach, accepting the fact that what was proposed by Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas, O.P. , also Thomas of Aquin or Aquino, was an Italian Dominican priest of the Catholic Church, and an immensely influential philosopher and theologian in the tradition of scholasticism, known as Doctor Angelicus, Doctor Communis, or Doctor Universalis...
was no longer workable in the 16th century.
His work On the Providence of the Deity, and the Immortality of the Soul, Against Atheists and Politicians, containing design arguments
Teleological argument
A teleological or design argument is an a posteriori argument for the existence of God based on apparent design and purpose in the universe. The argument is based on an interpretation of teleology wherein purpose and intelligent design appear to exist in nature beyond the scope of any such human...
for the existence of God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
, was translated into English in 1631 under the title Rawleigh his Ghost.
From 1610 on, and already in poor health, he turned towards writing ascetical and theological books that had also much success.
Tomb
Lessius is buried in St. Michael Church, the historic Jesuit church in LeuvenLeuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
. His simple tomb is located in the baptistry, just to the north of the apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
. Previously, he was interred at the nearby Jesuit college.
Works
- De Iustitia et Iure, Lovania, 1605.
- De Bono Statu eorum qui vovent..., Colonia, 1615.
- De perfectionibus moribusque divinis, Amberes, 1620.