An Introduction to Catholic Ethics since Vatican II

This introduction provides a comprehensive overview of Catholic ethics in the post-conciliar period, covering social teaching, natural law, virtue ethics, and bioethics.

Andrew Kim (Author)

9781107446564, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 2 April 2015

240 pages
22.8 x 15.2 x 1.4 cm, 0.35 kg

'In this book he presents an engaging and lucid exposition of the central themes in Catholic ethics: natural law, virtue, Catholic social teaching and bioethics. There are fine sections on the acquisition of the virtues and their unity in the Christian moral life, and on the dignity of the human person … He systematically and effectively demolishes various types of moral relativism, demonstrating how Christian theology transcends the culture wars and the current polarisation of left and right that are apparently spreading from the United States to the whole of western society.' Edward Dowler, Studies in Christian Ethics

This introduction provides a comprehensive overview of the development of Catholic ethics in the wake of the Second Vatican Council (1962–5), an event widely considered crucial to the reconciliation of the Catholic Church and the modern world. Andrew Kim investigates Catholic responses to questions of moral theology in all four principal areas: Catholic social teaching, natural law, virtue ethics, and bioethics. In addition to discussing contemporary controversies surrounding abortion, contraception, labor rights, exploitation of the poor, and just war theory, he explores the historical sources of the Catholic worldview. Beginning with the moral vision revealed through the person of Jesus Christ and continuing with elaborations on this vision from figures such as Augustine and Aquinas, this volume elucidates the continuity of the Catholic moral tradition. Its balance of complexity and accessibility makes it an ideal resource for both students of theology and general readers.

Introduction
Part I. Foundations of Catholic Ethics: 1. Moral relativism
2. The natural law and revelation
3. The river between
Part II. Grace at the Heart of Virtue: 4. The cardinal virtues
5. The virtues of grace
6. The unity of the virtues
Part III. Catholic Social Teaching: 7. Justice in the Catholic moral tradition
8. The principles of Catholic social teaching
9. The just war tradition
Part IV. Bioethics: 10. The dignity of the human person
11. Beginning of life decisions
12. End of life decisions.

Subject Areas: History of religion [HRAX], Religious ethics [HRAM1], Religious issues & debates [HRAM], Philosophy of religion [HRAB]