Eschatology, the area of study concerning the final ends of humanity, are of particular importance to theologically informed systems of belief. While eschatological inquiry may seem outside of the purview of economics, any discipline attempting to articulate a long-run understanding of the world must have beliefs about final ends. Economics, as such, likely already engages in eschatological thinking, just not systematically or explicitly. Several risks exist if systems of thought, such as economics, are unable or unwilling to address the eschatological. This paper will use the theological exploration of eschatology to motivate and explore descriptive and prescriptive elements of eschatology. Attention will then be turned towards understanding how the eschatological is and can be approached across economic thought. Lastly, the implications of an eschatological approach for economics on further research and policy prescription are discussed. By reconstruction and renegotiation society can create a healthier vision of the eschatologic future.
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