Human Nature in Modern Economics offers a precise definition of the concept of human nature in economics, something that is so far lacking in the theoretical and methodological literature. This book develops tools for the analysis of human nature through the construction of the author’s meta-model – based on anthropological and psychological foundations – allowing for comparisons of anthropological assumptions made in economic theories. The model demonstrates that the normative functions of human nature may affect the economic reality. The chapters argue that the concept of human nature determines our thinking about the economy and economics, including fundamental methodologies, methods and theories. Thus, the differences between various economic schools may result from the different assumptions of these schools about human nature. Those evolving views of human nature proceed to explain the development of both orthodox (mainstream) and heterodox economics. The book marks a significant addition to the literature on the history of economic thought, heterodox economics, economic theory and economic methodology. For students, it is a supplement to standard textbooks as it explains the current state of economics, especially in its heterodox branches. It will allow scholars to discover the importance of what they assume about human nature and how it may influence their research process.

World events have made clear that liberal society must become more resilient in the face of totalitarian challenges. But how is liberal society to do that? In this groundbreaking work, social ethicist Elmar Nass presents the ethical and anthropological foundations of a liberal social order within a Christian conception of humanity and society in an ecumenical spirit. In doing so, Nass revives the long-neglected discussion on the ethics of order. Christian foundations and claims are currently confronted with alternative social-ethical concepts from other religions, traditions, and social philosophies. Nass argues that Christian social ethics has a critical role to play as it engages the world. Nass vividly discusses fundamental and concrete social challenges for human dignity, freedom and justice (such as peace, integrity of creation, euthanasia, family, social justice, digitalization, behavioral economics, and many more) in the light of the threefold Christian responsibility (before God, before oneself, before one another). He articulates ethical orientations derived with clarity from a Christian foundation of values. The Christian social ethics system presented by Nass is a transparent value template that can be applied to ever new challenges in the present and in the future. With this understanding of social responsibility, questions of racism, migration, gender and sexuality, the environment, and public health and pandemics, among many others, can thus be addressed and answered. Nass offers a full-throated and robust Christian position for the value discussions of our time.

To understand leadership as an art is the objective of this book. One key aspect is the topic of freedom: Stefan Brotbeck develops a phenomenology of "Unfreiheit" by unmasking mechanisms which he describes as social denaturation. Further topics are amongst others the "liberation" of leadership (Rehn), Hierarchie (Hardorp), confidence (Lavecchia), education (Dietz) and sense-making (Werner).

Die jährlich in zwei Heften erscheinende, referierte »Zeitschrift für Kulturmanagement« initiiert und fördert eine wissenschaftliche Auseinandersetzung mit Kulturmanagement im Hinblick auf eine methodologische und theoretische Fundierung des Faches. Das international orientierte Periodikum nimmt nicht nur ökonomische Fragestellungen, sondern ebenso sehr die historischen, politischen, sozialen und wirtschaftlichen Bedingungen und Verflechtungen im Bereich Kultur in den Blick. Explizit sind daher auch Fachvertreterinnen und -vertreter akademischer Nachbardisziplinen wie der Kultursoziologie und -politologie, der Kunst-, Musik- und Theaterwissenschaft, der Kunst- und Kulturpädagogik, der Wirtschaftswissenschaft etc. angesprochen, mit ihren Beiträgen den Kulturmanagementdiskurs kritisch zu bereichern. Das Heft versammelt Beiträge mit dem Schwerpunkt »Kultur im Umbruch. Transformation von Systemen, Institutionen und Formaten«.