Throughout economic history, innovative key technologies have again and again driven forward new phases of economic activity, work and life for people. Today, it is digitalization as a universal technology that is permeating every area of life, just as electric power did more than a century ago. Alongside the increased affluence and the improvement in the quality of life that have been experienced thanks to these technological and economic processes of change, there are also associated risks that need to be taken into account and require active management. The effects of these fundamental changes in the economy (?economy 4.0=) for the world of work, for consumers, for developing and emerging countries and for the environment are also giving rise to challenges in social ethics, which are discussed in this volume on an ecumenical basis by two philosophers of social ethics, one Roman Catholic and the other Protestant.

Prof. Traugott Jähnichen teaches Christian Social Theory in the Faculty of Protestant Theology at the University of Bochum. Prof. Joachim Wiemeyer teaches Christian Social Studies in the Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Bochum.