God and Morality: A Philosophical History - Paperback

by John E. Hare (Author)

God and Morality evaluates the ethical theories of four principle philosophers, Aristotle, Duns Scotus, Kant, and R.M. Hare.

• Uses their thinking as the basis for telling the story of the history and development of ethical thought more broadly
• Focuses specifically on their writings on virtue, will, duty, and consequence
• Concentrates on the theistic beliefs to highlight continuity of philosophical thought

Back Jacket

God and Morality evaluates the ethics of four principal philosophers - Aristotle, Duns Scotus, Kant, and R. M. Hare - placing an emphasis on the often circumvented relationship between their ethical theories and theism. While focusing on central concepts such as virtue, will, duty, and consequences, the author never loses sight of the larger context in which these views appear, presenting the work of these philosophers as keys to understanding the historical advancement of ethical thought during four great periods in Western philosophical history. This book defies traditional modes of comparison between these important philosophers by paying close attention not only to differences in their thought, but to significant and sometimes surprising similarities, taking seriously the role of God in their moral theories.

Author Biography

John E. Hare is Noah Porter Professor of Philosophical Theology at Yale University. His books include The Moral Gap (1996), God's Call (2001), and Why Bother Being Good? (2002). He has also written on Greek philosophy, international relations, Kant, evolutionary ethics, and biomedical ethics.