Virtue ethics, virtue theory, and moral theology

Pettigrove, G. (2014) Virtue ethics, virtue theory, and moral theology. In: van Hooft, S. (ed.) The Handbook of Virtue Ethics. Acumen, pp. 88-104. ISBN 9781844656394

Abstract

The virtues have long played a central role in Christian moral teaching. It is not surprising, then, that over the centuries theologians have produced a number of interesting versions of an ethics of virtue. Although they hearken back to and are profoundly shaped by a shared set of canonical texts, theological commitments, and ritual observances, many of these virtue-focused accounts of ethics differ quite markedly from one another. Given the length, breadth and sophistication of this tradition, Christian moral theology offers a wealth of resources for contemporary virtue ethicists, whether they are working within a Christian theological framework or not. This chapter highlights four strands within recent theologically-informed work on virtue ethics, each of which is directly relevant to current controversies in moral philosophy: 1) Thomistic virtue ethics, 2) narrativist virtue ethics, 3) neo-Augustinian virtue ethics and 4) divine motivation theory. Along the way it sheds light on what it means to offer a virtue ethic (as opposed to a virtue theory).

• Item Type: Book Sections
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Pettigrove, Professor Glen
• Authors: Pettigrove, G.
• College/School: College of Arts > School of Humanities > Philosophy
• Publisher: Acumen
• ISBN: 9781844656394