Includes bibliographical references (pages 333-342) and index.
CONTENTS NOTE
Text of Note
God and moral obligation : is a link possible? -- The ethical as a "stage" of existence : either/or and radical choice -- "The ethical" in fear and trembling -- The ethical task as the human task -- Divine commands as the basis for moral obligation -- The humanistic character of commanded love -- Divine commands : how given and to whom? -- Who is my neighbour? can love be a duty? -- Neighbour-love, natural loves, and social relations -- Contemporary meta-ethical alternatives : evolutionary naturalism -- Contemporary meta-ethical alternatives : humanistic naturalism -- Contemporary meta-ethical alternatives : relativism and nihilism -- Conclusions: Divine command morality in a pluralistic society.
0
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
"A host of interpretive issues are addressed, including the relation of Kierkegaard himself to the pseudonymous 'characters' to whom many of his books are attributed. After exploring the implications of this Kiekegaardian ethic, the heart of which is to be found in Works of Love, Evans defends it by showing its advantages over such contemporary secular rivals as evolutionary naturalism, social contract theories, and moral relativism. His concluding chapter responds to fundamental objections often posed against such a religiously grounded ethic."--Jacket.
Text of Note
"C. Stephen Evans interprets Kierkegaard as presenting a form of divine command theory of moral obligation, similar to accounts developed by Robert Adams and Philip Quinn. The account understands the relation humans have with a loving God as making possible the greatest human good, and as creating those unique obligations we designate as moral. God's commands should be obeyed, not because of fear of divine punishment, but out of love and gratitude for the good that God has bestowed on humans in creating them and giving them eternal life with God as their intended destiny."