Theological ethics II [ LTHEO1250 ]

In order to achieve the specific aims of this course, we will tackle the following themes:

-        Ethics today (covering both the current philosophical and theological contexts)

-        An approach to ethics: the basics (drawing on examples from many different fields)

-        The development of moral thought: an historical overview

-        Introduction to key concepts for inquiry, specifically the concept of the human condition (particularly drawing on P. Ricoeur's Le Volontaire et l'Involontaire)

-        Morality: from obeying laws to the ambition of the greatest love

-        Links between philosophy and theology; the nature of theological inquiry in the contemporary landscape of ethical inquiry (including an overview of biblical moral codes and various approaches within the Catholic tradition)

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

-        Discern the issues and concerns raised by the study of ethics

-        Define and explain the key concepts within moral inquiry

-        Adopt an approach to ethical inquiry, explaining both the philosophical process and the contribution of theology

-        Refer to and critically appraise philosophers and theologians

-        Identify the main ethicalthemes running through the Scriptures and Catholic tradition

The contribution of this Teaching Unit to the development and command of the skills and learning outcomes of the programme(s) can be accessed at the end of this sheet, in the section entitled “Programmes/courses offering this Teaching Unit”.

Content:

After a description of the current context and the relevance of ethical inquiry to contemporary debates, the course will briefly cover an overview of ethics, before introducing a series of key concepts:

-        The human condition

-        Conscience

-        Law and ambition of love (including the necessary, yet instructive, tension between them)

We will then turn to P. Ricoeur's thinking, noting the way in which his human experience and intellectual career interacted in his own life, and also covering his thoughts on freedom, desire and fallibility - elements of ethics in action.

At this stage, ethics opens up the question of hermeneutics, and in particular, biblical hermeneutics. The process we adopt allows us to reflect on the characteristics of a theological approach to ethics and to establish the main themes in moral theology.

Assessment: oral examination

 Method: Although the delivery of this course will be principally through lectures, students will be provided with a course structure and portfolio of reading material at each stage, to enable active individual participation of all students.