Altruism and Christian Ethics
Altruism and Christian Ethics
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Separated from its anchorage in religion, ethics has followed the social sciences in seeing human beings as fundamentally characterized by self-interest, so that altruism is either naively idealistic or arrogantly self-sufficient. Colin Grant contends that, as a modern secular concept, altruism is a parody on the self-giving love of Christianity, so that its dismissal represents a social leveling that loses the depths that theology makes intelligible and religion makes possible. He argues that to dispense with altruism is to dispense with God and with the divine transformation of human possibilities.
- A case for a theological significance for altruism, against attacks from sociobiology, social sciences and ethics
- An indication of what the sciences, social sciences and ethics miss through dismissal of theology
- Recognition that God is characterized by eros as well as agape, in a way appropriate to God
Reviews & endorsements
"...the book is an engaging and valuable addition to the literature on altruism." Journal of Religion
"Grant offers a careful analysis of recent secular literature on altruism...he provides a compelling critique of sociobiology's interpretation of altruism...Grant book is a highly nuanced examination of much of the literature on altruism and agape...It is readable and interesting...most informative" Theology Today
"It provides a useful introduction to features of and debates surrounding altruism and makes clear the role Christian ethics can play in defending and promoting it." Religious Studies Review
Product details
January 2005Adobe eBook Reader
9780511031526
0 pages
0kg
This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
Table of Contents
- Part I. Alien Altruism:
- 1. Explanations for altruism
- 2. Evidence of altruism
- 3. The elusiveness of altruism
- Part II. Ideal Altruism:
- 4. Contract altruism
- 5. Constructed altruism
- 6. Collegial altruism
- Part III. Real Altruism:
- 7. Acute altruism: agape
- 8. Absolute altruism
- 9. Actual altruism.
