Philosophy of Finance
P R O J E C T
The Philosophy of Finance Project engages students, scholars and practitioners with the goal of addressing fundamental questions raised by the practice of finance. Through conferences, seminars, fellowships and publications, the Philosophy of Finance Project will create the space necessary for this interdisciplinary reflection.
Financial markets have a profound impact on modern life, yet the frenetic pace at which financial transactions occur, and the speed with which innovation transforms financial practice, offer little opportunity for the practitioner to reflect upon the ways in which the practice of finance is shaping modern life.
At the same time, the fluidity of financial practice presents challenges for scholars, questioning received models of financial markets and their import.
From Practice To Theory
Aristotle taught us to begin with particulars when approaching theory. By investigating problems arising in the practice of finance, we seek neglected questions, overlooked areas that promise superior returns in the form of new theoretical insights.
The Quest For Wisdom
Drawing on Collegium’s strengths, the Program on the Philosophy of Finance engages in interdisciplinary inquiry, drawing insights from a variety of disciplines (philosophy, theology, economics, finance, etc) and spanning the history of thought in search of wisdom today.
From Theory To Practice
Because finance professionals face incentive structures that constrain action, scholars need the input of practitioners in order to discover how theories may be made practical. By bringing practitioners and scholars together, we can ensure that reflection provides guidance for the world in which we live.
Apply Now to the Fall 2024 Fellowship!
This fall semester, the Philosophy of Finance project will explore this pathbreaking volume, The Price of Time: The Real Story of Interest. Published by the Atlantic Monthly, it was longlisted for the 2022 Financial Times Business Book of the Year and was the 2023 Winner of the Hayek Prize.
We are currently accepting applications for a cohort of undergraduate and graduate student fellows interested in the fundamental questions raised by the practice of finance. They will participate in four seminar-style discussion sessions this semester that will lead them to reflect on the history of interest and its essential function in determining how capital is allocated and priced. More broadly they will help map the new field of the Philosophy of Finance and consider its implications for whether/how the practice of finance can be integrated with a good life. Sessions will be facilitated by Dr. Matthew O’Brien, the President and Chief Investment Officer of O’Brien Greene & Co., an investment management firm outside Philadelphia.
Click the button to learn more and to apply.
Previous Fellows
Fall 2023
(into Spring 2024)
This semester we will explore the various ways in which financial professionals can understand their individual and ethical responsibilities. Specifically, this seminar will help participants develop an honorable ethos to bring into their practice of finance.
Spring 2023
This semester, we will explore various ways in which finance has supported or threatened the common good. We will take a look at the 2008 financial crisis and assess the extent to which epistemic vices (incompetence, financial illiteracy) were responsible, as opposed to greed, appetite, or risk. Other topics will include medieval debates on usury, perspectives on debt accumulation, and financial exclusion.
Fall 2022
The Philosophy of Finance fall semester will reflect on the good and evil in the market through the lens of human history. Our first meeting will introduce the key idea driving our inquiry: modern economic thought emerges from a confluence of enduring stories and myths held by our predecessors. Before discussing the means of economic progress in the spring semester, we will consider the ends which the market serves. As such, our fall sessions will explore ideas expressed in Mesopotamian, Jewish, and Christian thought, as well as philosophical perspectives on money.
Previous Conferences
2019 Philosophy of Finance Conference
Capitalism is threatened by stagnant wages, the fear of recession, and a growing sense that the economy is “rigged” in favor of the rich. Where lies its future? Can capitalism be ordered to the common good? Is the field of finance part of the problem or the solution?
The Collegium Institute brought together leading scholars and practitioners in the fields of finance, ethics, and theology for our conference on “The Common Good and the Future of Capitalism.”
Learn More
If you are interested in learning more, or signing up for announcements about Philosophy of Finance programming, please contact our program fellow & operations assistant Esther lee: elee@collegiuminstitute.org.
Collaborate with Us
If you are a practitioner or a scholar of finance and/or philosophy and are interested in collaborating with us on seminars, conferences, working groups and publications, please contact the Director of the Philosophy of Finance Project, Dr. Matt O’Brien: matthew.obrien@obriengreene.com