<The> revival of natural law philosophical, theological and ethical responses to the Finnis-Grisez school

Natural law theory has been enjoying a significant revival in recent times. Led by Germain Grisez in the USA and John Finnis in the UK, one school of thinkers has been articulating a highly developed system of natural law built upon a sophisticated account of practical reasoning and a rich and flexible understanding of the human good. However, long-standing prejudices against old-style natural law among moral philosophers and Protestant ethicists, together with the new theory's appropriation by conservatives in the impassioned debate between the Vatican and dissenting theologians in the United States, have prevented the Finnis-Grisez version from being adequately appreciated. Providing a clear and substantive introduction to the theory for those who are new to it, this book then broadens, assesses, and advances the debate about it, examining crucial philosophical, theological and ethical issues and opening up discussion beyond the confines of the Roman Catholic Church. Part 1, on philosophical issues, starts with two broad chapters that locate the Grisez school in relation to modern moral philosophy and the Roman Catholic philosophical tradition of Thomism, and then follows these with further chapters on two crucial issues: the possibility of consensus on the human good, and the nature of moral absolutes. Part 2, on theological dimensions, begins with a Lutheran critique of Grisez, locates him in relation to the ethics of two very prominent 20th century Protestants, Karl Barth and Stanley Hauerwas, and then explores the major area of theological controversy within the Roman Catholic community - how to conceive of the "Church's" authority with regard to moral matters. Part 3 subjects the school's thought to critical examination in a broad range of ethical fields: bioethics, gender, sex and the environment. A concluding chapter then develops eight topics that recur in the course of the book: the status of ethical realism in the contemporary intellectual climate; whether realism is best conceived in rationalist or naturalist terms; whether marriage should be counted as a basic good; whether physical pleasure should not be counted a basic good; whether it is always wrong to act deliberately against a basic good; the problems of moral certainty and authority; the rapproachement between Protestant and Roman Catholic ethics; and, finally, whether ethical understanding is really independent of one's anthropological point of view. Drawing together North American, European and Australian contributors from across moral philosophy and Protestant ethics as well as from Roman Catholic moral theology, this book opens up the debate about the Finnis-Grisez theory, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses in order to advance current discussion about natural law in moral theology and in moral and legal philosophy. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Contents 6 List of Tables 8 List of Abbreviations 9 List of Contributors 10 Acknowledgements 12 Preface 14 Introduction: The New Natural Law Theory 20 Part I: Philosophical Issues 46 1 Natural Law Revived: Natural Law Theory and Contemporary Moral Philosophy 48 2 Grisez and Thomism 72 3 The Basic Dimensions of Human Flourishing: A Comparison of Accounts 92 4 John Finnis on Moral Absolutes 130 Part II: Theological Dimensions 148 5 Is Grisez's Moral Theology Rationalistic? Free Choice, the Human Condition, and Christian Ethics 150 6 Is the New Natural Law Theory Christian? 167 7 Karl Barth and Germain Grisez on the Human Good: An Ecumenical Rapprochement 183 8 Grisez's Ecclesiology, the Role of Moral Theologians, and the Scope for Responsible Dissent 203 Part III: Moral Fields 220 9 Respect for Life in Germain Grisez's Moral Theology 222 10 Natural Sex: Germain Grisez, Sex, and Natural Law 242 11 Grisez on Sex and Gender: A Feminist Theological Perspective 261 12 The Moral Standing of Nature and the New Natural Law 281 Conclusion 302 Index 314 The New Natural Law Theory / Rufus Black -- Natural Law Revived: Natural Law Theory And Contemporary Moral Philosophy / Timothy Chappell -- Grisez And Thomism / Ralph Mcinerny -- The Basic Dimensions Of Human Flourishing: A Comparison Of Accounts / Sabina Alkire -- John Finnis On Moral Absolutes / Oliver O'donovan -- Is Grisez's Moral Theology Rationalistic? Free Choice, The Human Condition, And Christian Ethics / Göran Bexell -- Is The New Natural Law Theory Christian? / Rufus Black -- Karl Barth And Germain Grisez On The Human Good: An Ecumenical Rapprochement / Nigel Biggar -- Grisez's Ecclesiology, The Role Of Moral Theologians, And The Scope For Responsible Dissent / Bernard Hoose -- Respect For Life In Germain Grisez's Moral Theology / Dave Leal -- Natural Sex: Germain Grisez, Sex, And Natural Law / Gareth Moore -- Grisez On Sex And Gender: A Feminist Theological Perspective / Lisa Sowle Cahill -- The Moral Standing Of Nature And The New Natural Law / Michael Northcott -- Conclusion / Nigel Biggar. Edited By Nigel Biggar, Rufus Black. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Focusing on the particular theory of natural law developed by John Finnis and Germain Grisez, this is an introduction to the theory for those who are new to the field. It broadens, assesses and advances the debate surrounding it, examining crucial philosophical, theological and ethical issues.