Donald MacKinnon's Theology: To Perceive Tragedy Without the Loss of Hope (T&T Clark Studies in English Theology)

Donald MacKinnon (1913-1994) was one of the most influential Anglican theologians in the aftermath of World War Two. His writings reveal him as a restive and unsystematic thinker, yet there is a good case to be made that a series of reoccurring questions – ‘obsessions’ might better honour the memory of MacKinnon’s temperament –appear throughout. These relate to the demands of moral realism, the tensions between the philosophical positions of realism and idealism, and the perennially disruptive presence of Christ. Andrew Bowyer outlines McKinnon’s contribution and context, as well as characterising his work as a form of “therapeutic” moral philosophy that combines a call for intense self-awareness together with a commitment to realist notions of moral “factuality”. Bowyer examines the key influences on McKinnon’s thought, his focus on Christology, his engagement with literature and literary criticism, as well as his response to Wittgenstein’s later philosophy. This volume offers an appreciation of his contribution and a critique of his legacy. "Andrew Bowyer presents the first comprehensive examination of Donald MacKinnon's theology in relation to his moral philosophy. He offers an original and creative reading of MacKinnon's methodology, and important insights into the key influences and core questions which stood at the heart of his work. Bowyer outlines MacKinnon's contributions to Anglican theology in the aftermath of the Second World War, highlighting the "therapeutic" nature of his approach in as far as it combined a call for intense self-awareness with a commitment to moral realism. . As one of the most influential Anglican theologians in the mid-twentieth century, MacKinnon's writings reveal him as a restive and unsystematic thinker. However, Bowyer argues that a series of reoccurring questions - 'obsessions' might better honour the memory of MacKinnon's temperament -appear throughout his work, relating to the tensions between the realism and idealism, the call to be "morally serious", the nature of theological truth claims, and the perennially disruptive presence of Christ. Bowyer examines the key influences on MacKinnon's thought, the centrality of Christology to his project, his engagement with literature and literary criticism, as well as his response to Wittgenstein's later philosophy. This volume offers an appreciation of his contribution and a critique of his legacy."--Bloomsbury publishing. Cover Half Title Series Title Copyright Content Acknowledgements List of abbreviations AN INTRODUCTION TO DONALD MACKINNON Chapter 1 MACKINNON’S ‘THERAPEUTIC’ METHOD Introduction MacKinnon’s ‘therapeutic’ methodology The focus and end of MacKinnon’s philosophical therapy MacKinnon as a Kantian moral theologian MacKinnon contra modernist theology Moral realism Conclusion Chapter 2 BEYOND KANT AND BACK AGAIN: FURTHER INFLUENCES ON MACKINNON Introduction A. E. Taylor W. R. Sorley The analytical awakening Options for the theologian in light of the analytical turn Chapter 3 MACKINNON’S MORAL CHRISTOLOGY Introduction MacKinnon on incarnation and revelation MacKinnon on atonement Transition from atonement theology to trinitarian ontology Excursus: Alter Christus? MacKinnon on Lenin Conclusion Chapter 4 MACKINNON AND THE LITERARY IMAGINATION Introduction A moral realist reads literature On scripture as literature MacKinnon and tragic literature Conclusion Chapter 5 MACKINNON, WITTGENSTEIN AND MORAL REALISM Introduction On Wittgenstein and ethics MacKinnon’s response to Wittgenstein MacKinnon’s unsystematic proposal for moral philosophy: Intuition and natural law Conclusion Chapter 6 OVERALL CONCLUSION: CONSIDERING MACKINNON’S PROJECT IN RETROSPECT Bibliography Index