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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 February 2009
‘In our half century’, says Professor Gilbert Ryle, ‘philosophy land theology have not been on speaking terms.’ This is broadly true, and many philosophers and theologians seem to be quite content in the knowledge that their respective spheres are isolated from one another. Others, however, are dissatisfied with the prevailing situation, and feel that contemporary philosophy has much to offer theology by way of technique and procedure, and that philosophers display more bravado than wisdom if they rule that theology and religion are beyond the scope of philosophical investigation, and that religious statements are meaningless. Nowhere is the extent of the gulf between philosophy and theology more noticeable than in the field of morals. For example, one has only to consult the indices and bibliographies of books on Christian Ethics and on Moral Philosophy to see just how little overlapping of sources there is. This gives rises to the question whether there is, or ought to be, any common ground between them. Is it possible that representatives of the two camps could engage in profitable discussion? We shall observe certain hesitations and suspicions which the moral philosopher may entertain concerning Christian Ethics; we shall note what appear to be limitations in each discipline as currently practised; and we shall seek to draw certain conclusions. First, let us try to indicate the scope of Christian Ethics.
page 337 note 1 Cited by Mitchell, B., Faith and Logic, p. 2.Google Scholar
page 337 note 2 This point is resumed, and illustrated by reference to a particular case, below.
page 338 note 1 In the case of each heading, the list of works cited is intended merely to be illustrative, and is by no means exhaustive. For a comprehensive survey of Christian ethical writings since 1939, vide Preston, R. H., ‘Christian Ethics and Moral Theology’, Theology, Vol. LXIV, pp. 3–7 and 46–57.Google Scholar
page 338 note 2 For an examination of the method adopted here vide J. Barr, The Semantics of Biblical Language.
page 339 note 1 This bald statement will suffice for the present. Its justification is that it does represent the view which many contemporary moral philosophers take of their work. Unless otherwise stated, we have British moral philosophers only in mind in this article.
page 340 note 1 Ramsey, P., Basic Christian Ethics, p. xi.Google Scholar
page 340 note 2 ibid., pp. 92ff.
page 341 note 1 ibid., p. 95.
page 341 note 2 ibid., p. 100.
page 341 note 3 ibid., p. 359.
page 342 note 1 For a moral philosopher's own words, vide p. 345f.
page 342 note 2 Mortimer, R. C., Christian Ethics, p. 110.Google Scholar
page 342 note 3 Thomas, G. F., Christian, Ethics and Moral Philosophy, pp. 340ff.Google Scholar
page 343 note 1 cf. W. Temple, Christianity and the State; V. A. Demant, Theology and Society; G. Aulén, Church, Law and Society; P. Ramsey, Basic Christian Ethics.
page 343 note 2 Thomas, G. F., Christian Ethics and Moral Philosophy, p. 373f.Google Scholar
page 344 note 1 p. I.
page 344 note 2 Bennett, J. C., Christian Social Action, p. 66.Google Scholar
page 344 note 3 Hunter, A. M., Design for Life, p. 21.Google Scholar
page 344 note 4 ibid., p. 23.
page 345 note 1 ibid., p. 112 (italics mine).
page 345 note 2 Coggan, F. D., The New Testament Basis of Moral Theology, p. 3.Google Scholar
page 345 note 3 We cannot here describe the constituents and sanctions of the Christian world view. On this whole subject cf. C. H. Dodd, Gospel and Law, and N. H. G. Robinson, Christ and Conscience (especially Part One).
page 346 note 1 Toulmin, S. E., An Examination of the Place of Reason in Ethics, p. 221.Google Scholar
page 346 note 2 Nowell-Smith, P. H., Ethics, p. 313.Google Scholar
page 346 note 3 ibid., p. 319.
page 346 note 4 ibid., p. 312.
page 346 note 5 pp. 202ff.
page 347 note 1 Reason in Ethics, p. 203.
page 347 note 2 Toulmin, S. E., Reason in Ethics, p. 203.Google Scholar
page 347 note 3 Faith and Logic, p. 192.
page 347 note 4 cf. e.g. Warnock, M., Ethics since Igoo, pp. 197ff.Google Scholar
page 348 note 1 Kaufmann, W., Critique of Religion and Philosophy, p. 19.Google Scholar
page 348 note 2 From Moore's Autobiography, cited by Kaufmann, ibid., p. 17.
page 348 note 3 Kaufmann, W., Critique of Religion and Philosophy, p. 2.Google Scholar
page 348 note 4 In Philosophy, Jan. 1949; cited by Lewis, H. D., Morals and Revelation, p. 91.Google Scholar
page 348 note 5 Lewis, H. D., Morals and Revelation, p. 95.Google Scholar
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page 349 note 1 ibid., p. 27.
page 349 note 2 Vide e.g. A. Farrer, The Freedom of the Will; E. L. Mascall, Words and Images.
page 349 note 3 Vide Thomas, J. Heywood, ‘Introducing Paul Tillich’, London Quarterly Review, Jan. 1956Google Scholar; ‘Philosophy and Theology in Paul Tillich’, ibid., Jan. 1959; ‘Some notes on the theology of Paul Tillich’, Hibbert, Journal, Apr. 1959.Google Scholar
page 350 note 1 Thomas, G. F., Christian Ethics and Moral Philosophy, p. 368, cf. p. 367.Google Scholar
page 350 note 2 Nowell-Smith, P. H., Ethics, p. 12.Google Scholar
page 350 note 3 Thomas, G. F., Christian Ethics and Moral Philosophy, p. 371.Google Scholar
page 350 note 4 ibid., p. 372.