Natural Law and Moral Inquiry: Ethics, Metaphysics, and Politics in the Thought of Germain Grisez (Not In A Series)

Germain Grisez has been a leading voice in moral philosophy and theology since the second Vatican Council. In this book, such major thinkers as John Finnis, Ralph McInerny, and William E. May consider issues in ethics, metaphysics, and politics that have been central to Grisez's work. Grisez's reconsideration of the philosophical foundations of Christian moral teaching, seeking to eliminate both legalistic interpretation and theological dissent, has won the support of a number of leading Catholic moralists. In the past decade, moreover, many philosophers outside of Catholicism have weighed carefully Grisez's alternatives to theories that have long dominated secular moral philosophy. This book presents a broad spectrum of viewpoints on subjects ranging from contraception to capital punishment and considers such controversies as the scriptural basis of Grisez's work, his interpretations of Aquinas, and his new natural law theory. The collection includes not only contributions from Grisez's supporters but also from critics of his thought, from proportionalist Edward Collins Vacek, S.J., to the neo-Thomist Ralph McInerny. A reply by Grisez, written with Joseph M. Boyle, Jr., addresses the issues and viewpoints expressed, while an afterword by Russell Shaw reviews Grisez's pioneering work and conveys a vivid sense of the philosopher's personality. As Grisez's influence grows, this volume will serve as an important touchstone on his contributions to moral and political philosophy and theology.

Germain Grisez has been a leading voice in moral philosophy and theology since the second Vatican Council. In this book, such major thinkers as John Finnis, Ralph McInerny, and William E. May consider issues in ethics, metaphysics, and politics that have been central to Grisez's work.

Grisez's reconsideration of the philosophical foundations of Christian moral teaching, seeking to eliminate both legalistic interpretation and theological dissent, has won the support of a number of leading Catholic moralists. In the past decade, moreover, many philosophers outside of Catholicism have weighed carefully Grisez's alternatives to theories that have long dominated secular moral philosophy.

This book presents a broad spectrum of viewpoints on subjects ranging from contraception to capital punishment and considers such controversies as the scriptural basis of Grisez's work, his interpretations of Aquinas, and his new natural law theory. The collection includes not only contributions from Grisez's supporters but also from critics of his thought, from proportionalist Edward Collins Vacek, S.J., to the neo-Thomist Ralph McInerny. A reply by Grisez, written with Joseph M. Boyle, Jr., addresses the issues and viewpoints expressed, while an afterword by Russell Shaw reviews Grisez's pioneering work and conveys a vivid sense of the philosopher's personality.

As Grisez's influence grows, this volume will serve as an important touchstone on his contributions to moral and political philosophy and theology.

Booknews

Collects ten essays on Germain Grisez's writings. Topics include the scriptural basis of Grisez's revision of moral theology, contraception, Grisez's metaphysical work, capital punishment, and the political common good in Aquinas. The book includes a response by Grisez and Joseph Boyle, Jr. to the essays. Concludes with an essay on the renewal in moral theology. Paper edition (unseen), $24.95. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Introduction vii PART ONE: Ethics 1 WILLIAM E. MAY Gennain Grisez on Moral Principles and Moral Nonns: Natural and Christian 3 BENEDICT M. ASHLEY, O.P. The Scriptural Basis of Grisez's Revision of Moral Theology 36 EDWARD C. VACEK, S.J. Contraception Again-A Conclusion in Search of Convincing Arguments: One Proportionalist's [Mis?]Understanding of a Text 50 RALPH MclNERNY Portia's Lament: Reflections on Practical Reason 82 PART Two: Metaphysics 105 KEVIN L. FLANNERY, S.J. Practical Reason and Concrete Acts 107 PATRICK LEE Human Beings Are Animals 135 PART THREE: Politics 153 GERARD V. BRADLEY No Intentional Killing Whatsoever: The Case of Capital Punishment 155 JOHN FINNIS Public Good: The Specifically Political Common Good in Aquinas 174 PART FouR: A Reply by Germain Grisez and Joseph M. Boyle, Jr. 211 GERMAIN GRISEZ AND JOSEPH M. BOYLE, Jr. Response to Our Critics and Our Collaborators 213 Afterword 239 RUSSELL SHAW Pioneering the Renewal in Moral Theology 24