Responsibility and Christian EthicsThe purpose of this book is to formulate a way of thinking about issues of power, moral identity, and ethical norms by developing a theory of responsibility from a specifically theological viewpoint; the author thereby makes clear the significance for Christian commitment of current reflection on moral responsibility. The concept of responsibility is relatively new in ethics, but the drastic extension of human power through various technological developments has lately thrown into question the way human beings conceive of themselves as morally accountable agents. It is this radical extension of power in our time which poses the need for a new paradigm of responsibility in ethics. Schweiker engages in an informed way with what is therefore a highly topical discussion. By developing a coherent theory of responsibility, and inquiring as to its source, the author demonstrates the unique contribution of Christian faith to ethics in our time. |
Contents
General editors preface | |
Acknowledgements | |
Introduction | 1 |
THE CONTEXT OF RESPONSIBILITY | 7 |
Responsibility and moral confusion | 9 |
A new ethics of responsibility | 31 |
THE THEORY OF RESPONSIBILITY | 53 |
The idea of responsibility | 55 |
Freedom and responsibility | 135 |
Responsibility and moral identity | 159 |
THE SOURCE OF RESPONSIBILITY | 187 |
Power responsibility and the divine | 189 |
Responsibility and Christian ethics | 213 |
Notes | 228 |
| 245 | |
| 252 | |
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actions and relations agential theories Alasdair MacIntyre answer argued articulate ascribing responsibility ascription of responsibility assignment of responsibility basic bility causal Chapter Charles Taylor choice Christian ethics Christian faith commitment conception conscience constituted contemporary culture defined demand dialogical theories dimensions of ethics discourse divine divine command ethics enhance the integrity entails ethics of responsibility finite Hans Jonas human action human existence human power Ibid idea of responsibility imperative of responsibility individual insists integrated ethics integrated theory J. R. Lucas Jonas Kant lives Marion Smiley means meta-ethical modern moral community moral identity moral integrity moral realism moral responsibility nature Niebuhr ourselves Paul Ricoeur Philosophy praise and blame principle problem question radical interpretation realism reality respect and enhance Richard Niebuhr seek self-understanding sense simply Smiley social practices social roles social theories specify Stanley Hauerwas theologians theological ethics theories of responsibility theory of value traditional University Press validity