In episode 2 of Ethics at Work, "Work, the Common Good, and the Human Person," we are joined by Fr. Justin Brophy, OP ‘06, ‘17, ‘20 a professor of political science at Providence College. Fr. Justin’s work follows the ancient definition of politics, thinking about the human person in a community. He’s concerned with questions of flourishing, justice, and happiness.

In this episode we discuss ideas about work as a means to an end vs the potential of work to display the human person. We think deeply about the ways work has changed over time, how currently there is a focus on fast production over craftsman goods. We question whether this cheapening of the objects around us is dehumanizing.

We then ask how work might be essential to a flourishing life. Fr. Justin is particularly concerned with how technology is shaping our relationships with others and ourselves, so we dig into how to use technology well. The modern condition is full of tensions and unease, how do we live well within that? Catholicism gives us a blueprint to be pilgrim people, and we think about how to enact that in the modern world.

Featured Speakers: 

• Paul Blaschko, Ph.D., assistant teaching professor at the University of Notre Dame
• Megan Levis, Ph.D., assistant professor of the practice with Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concerns and with the College of Engineering
• Walter Scheirer, Ph.D., the Dennis O. Doughty Collegiate Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Notre Dame
• Fr. Justin Brophy, OP '06, '17, '20, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Providence College

The Ethics at Work podcast is edited and produced by Nat Todaro and Megan Levis.

Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND:  go.nd.edu/476db4.

This podcast is a part of the ThinkND Series titled  Ethics at Work Podcast.

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