THEO41230: PRINCIPLES OF THEOLOGICAL ETHICS

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• to provide an introduction to the advanced study of theological ethics
• to explore how explicitly religious ethical positions turn on doctrinal and philosophical issues
• to investigate the extent to which any ethical system is quasi-theological

• This module is an introduction to the advanced study of theological ethics. It will address the principles of theological ethics in two senses. First of all, it investigates how explicitly religious ethical positions turn on deep doctrinal and philosophical issues: doctrinal issues such as the interpretation of scripture, creation, christology, trinitarian theology, ecclesiology and eschatology; and philosophical issues such as the nature of truth, metaphysics, epistemology and hermeneutics. Secondly, it explores the extent to which any ethical system is quasi-theological, in that it makes fundamental claims about reality and our purpose within it.
• These conceptual issues will be explored through reading key historical thinkers, such as Augustine, Aquinas, Luther, Butler, Kant, Kierkegaard, Barth and Balthasar. This approach will situate recent discussions of virtue, narrative and post-secular ethics within the context of a tradition of Christian reflection. The module will also trace the deep undercurrents at work in the contemporary interest surrounding religion and public reason, as found, for example, in debates between thinkers such as Rawls, Habermas and Pope Benedict.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• understanding of the significance of fundamental doctrinal and philosophical themes for theological ethics
• engagement with central texts in theological ethics written by key thinkers from the tradition
• appreciation of the relationship between theological and philosophical ethics and between religion and public reason

Subject-specific Skills:

• the ability to analyse the underlying doctrinal and philosophical presuppositions of ethical positions
• the ability to evaluate the cogency of these presuppositions, in the light of a tradition of Christian reflection
• the ability to trace the genealogy of contemporary positions, identifying points of continuity and discontinuity with earlier thinkers
• the ability to see how deep theological and philosophical commitments inform political and ethical practice

Key Skills:

• advanced research skills, including the ability to locate, evaluate, and summarise key sources, both in print and online, and to cite them to a professional standard
• advanced communication skills, including the ability to construct a sophisticated argument, supported by the sources, in a clear, concise and convincing manner

• The lectures supply a framework of information and interpretation, which gives students an overview of a subject and a point of departure for their work, introducing subject-specific knowledge and demonstrating the use of subject-specific skills.
• The tutorials give students an opportunity to present plans for their work, and to receive feedback on their formative work, on a one-to-one basis, promoting the development of subject-specific and key skills.
• The seminars give students an opportunity to present the results of their work, and, in dialogue with one another and with staff, to evaluate these results, promoting the development of subject-specific and key skills.
• The essays require students to investigate particular topics, to present the results of their investigations in a clear and concise manner, and to cite their sources fully, accurately, and consistently, assessing subject-specific knowledge, subject-specific skills, and key skills.

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