Theology and Action

by Pinches, Charles R.

• ISBN13: 9780802848864
• ISBN10: 0802848869
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-03-01
• Publisher: Eerdmans Pub Co

Summary

How is an act defined? When can what you do be identified as an act? And does a proper description of an act have repercussions on moral discourse? These questions lie behind this new work by Charles Pinches, who argues that the answers to such questions are not only of academic interest but also reflect an erosion of moral thought and action in our present age.

In this broad-ranging book Pinches lays out current moral theories about action, detailing their deficiencies in the early chapters but also offering the thought of Thomas Aquinas as a corrective. Pinches argues that all human acts are moral acts and that a proper ethics must respond to and integrate an adequate account of human action in order to provide moral guidance in our world. Pinches gathers up the major theological themes involved in a responsible Christian ethic and points out a fruitful path ahead, enlivening his discussion at every turn with everyday illustrations.

An excellent introduction to the history of moral discourse, Theology and Action makes a valuable contribution to the search

Author Biography

Charles R. Pinches is professor of theology and director of graduate studies in theology at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Introduction	1	(10)
Actions in Context: Why All Action Theories Are Bound to Fail	11	(23)
Situation Ethics and Action Descriptions: The Persistence of Monism in Protestant Ethics	34	(25)
Veritatis Splendor and Proportionalism: Contemporary Catholic Disagreement about Action	59	(28)
Human Acts Are Moral Acts	87	(24)
Naming Human Actions	111	(26)
Moral Notions and Moral Acts	137	(30)
The Importance of Not Doing Something	167	(32)
Theology, Narrative, and Social Criticism	199	(34)
Index	233