The Problem of Evil, the Social Contract, and the History of Ethics

2001 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter De Marneffe
Keyword(s):  
Social Contract ◽  
Problem Of Evil ◽  
History Of Ethics ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Problem Of Evil ◽  
History Of

Minimal Morality

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Moehler
Keyword(s):  
Social Contract ◽  
Moral Pluralism ◽  
Moral Diversity ◽  
Moral Agents ◽  
Restricted Form ◽  
Pluralistic Societies ◽  
The Social ◽  
History Of ◽  
Just Society

This book develops a novel multilevel social contract theory that, in contrast to existing theories in the liberal tradition, does not merely assume a restricted form of reasonable moral pluralism, but is tailored to the conditions of deeply morally pluralistic societies that may be populated by liberal moral agents, nonliberal moral agents, and, according to the traditional understanding of morality, nonmoral agents alike. To develop this theory, the book draws on the history of the social contract tradition, especially the work of Hobbes, Hume, Kant, Rawls, and Gauthier, as well as on the work of some of the critics of this tradition, such as Sen and Gaus. The two-level contractarian theory holds that morality in its best contractarian version for the conditions of deeply morally pluralistic societies entails Humean, Hobbesian, and Kantian moral features. The theory defines the minimal behavioral restrictions that are necessary to ensure, compared to violent conflict resolution, mutually beneficial peaceful long-term cooperation in deeply morally pluralistic societies. The theory minimizes the problem of compliance by maximally respecting the interests of all members of society. Despite its ideal nature, the theory is, in principle, applicable to the real world and, for the conditions described, most promising for securing mutually beneficial peaceful long-term cooperation in a world in which a fully just society, due to moral diversity, is unattainable. If Rawls’ intention was to carry the traditional social contract argument to a higher level of abstraction, then the two-level contractarian theory brings it back down to earth.

scholarly journals A Historical Outline of Byzantine Philosophy and Its Basic Subjects

2018 ◽  
pp. 121-144
Author(s):  
Katelis Viglas
Keyword(s):  
Problem Of Evil ◽  
Relative Autonomy ◽  
15Th Century ◽  
Conceptual Realism ◽  
Historical Outline ◽  
The World ◽  
The Problem Of Evil ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Point Of Departure

The article seeks to present an overview of the history of Byzantine philosophy. It takes its point of departure in the most important factors that influenced and shaped the Patristic thought. Subsequently, the paper considers the relative autonomy of Byzantine philosophy and offers a brief profile of major philosophers that contributed to the stream in the period from 9th to 15th century. From the numerous subjects that were taken into account by the most prominent Byzantine philosophers, the article discusses such issues as: the view of God, the problem of ‘conceptual realism’, the relationship between such ‘disci  plines’ as logic, metaphysics, ethics, aesthetics and philosophical anthro  pology. Furthermore, such questions as the place of man in the world, the scope of their freedom and the problem of evil are also touched upon here. The paper concludes with some remarks on the develop  ment of Byzantine philosophy after the fall of Byzantium.

How Virtue Was Born

Gerontology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin A. Nowak ◽  
Karl Sigmund
Keyword(s):  
Social Contract ◽  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Evolution Of Cooperation ◽  
European Forum ◽  
The Social ◽  
History Of ◽  
Life On Earth

This paper summarizes the Opening Lecture of the European Forum Alpbach 2017 in Tyrol/Austria (https://www.alpbach.org/de/). It deals with the evolution of cooperation throughout the history of life on Earth, and in particular human cooperation based on partnership. It emphasizes the role of institutions providing incentives for cooperation, and the role of praise and blame in guiding our actions. This helps for a better understanding of the social contract, based on evolutionary biology and psychology.

The Feminist Turn in Ethics

Horizons ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 341-347
Author(s):  
Daniel C. Maguire
Keyword(s):  
Social Ethics ◽  
Moral Theology ◽  
Christian Ethics ◽  
Educational Systems ◽  
History Of Ethics ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Face ◽  
History Of ◽  
Natural Target ◽  
Political Science Education

Anyone who plies the noble art-science of social ethics (moral theology, Christian ethics), while taking no account of the feminist turn of consciousness, is open to charges of professional irresponsibility and incompetence. No. That is not an overstatement or an overblown rhetorical lead-in. The history of ethics is turning an epochal corner. To miss the turn is to be lost and useless.Feminism is concerned with the shift in roles and the question of the rights that have been unjustly denied women. But all of that, however important and even essential, is secondary. The main event is epistemological. Changes in what we know are normal; changes in how we know are revolutionary. Feminism is a challenge to the way we have gone about knowing. The epistemological terra firma of the recent past is rocking and as the event develops, it promises to change the face of the earth.The main impact of feminism will be felt in the area of moral knowledge. That, of course, is broader than ethics since all of the social sciences are heavy with moral assumptions and evaluations. Economics, politics (simplistically called political science), education, journalism, business administration, engineering, et al. are all intra-familial siblings of social ethics, although educational systems have treated them as separable strangers. (This mischievous separation, indeed, is a natural target of the emerging feminist consciousness.)

Hospice ministry as apologetics

2014 ◽  
Vol 111 (3) ◽  
pp. 287-291
Author(s):  
Alice Tremaine
Keyword(s):  
End Of Life ◽  
Terminal Illness ◽  
Hospice Care ◽  
Problem Of Evil ◽  
Good Samaritan ◽  
Spiritual Crisis ◽  
The Problem Of Evil ◽  
History Of ◽  
Modern Context ◽  
Christian Apologetics

The objective of this article is to present the act of compassion—particularly compassion at the end of life through hospice care—as an appropriate response to the problem of evil. A thesis of the article is that the end of life presents opportunities for engaging in practical Christian apologetics, such as emulating God’s compassion for those who suffer and acknowledging God’s presence in the midst of suffering and evil. The article begins by discussing the history of hospice care, from its medieval beginnings to its modern context, as well as the potential spiritual crisis that is brought on by terminal illness. I contend that practical gestures of compassion are appropriate responses to evil and suffering, and ways of proclaiming God’s existence and message. In order to support this thesis, I draw from commentary from John Swinton and Marcus Borg, as well as Jesus’ parables and contemporary stories. I conclude the article by asserting that God is revealed in the act of compassion and also seen in those who are suffering. The article calls for a response based on Jesus’ commandment in the “Good Samaritan parable” to “go and do likewise.”

scholarly journals Fictional Utopias, Dystopias, and the Problem of Evil

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Christophe Merle
Keyword(s):  
Early Modern ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Social Contract ◽  
Rule Of Law ◽  
Modern Time ◽  
Political Debates ◽  
The Social ◽  
Early Modern Time ◽  
The Problem Of Evil ◽  
Major Reference

Fictional utopias of the early modern time, as an alternative and an opposite to classical social contract theories, and fictional dystopias of the 20th century, as the opposite of the democratic and liberal rule of law, remain a major reference or for our contemporary political debates when it comes to characterize warn against considerable dangers entailed in political options, regimes, opinions etc. Today, classical utopias are mostly overwhelmingly considered in a negative way, although there were initially designed to be a more comprehensive solution for the problem of political evil than the social contract theories. From the beginning, dystopias were designed as the greatest political evil ever. Yet, both are not only fictional, but also radically impossible to ever b realized, for reasons that have not been really analyzed yet. In the following, I enquire into these reasons.

Introduction

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Han-luen Kantzer Komline
Keyword(s):  
Free Will ◽  
Problem Of Evil ◽  
Western Philosophy ◽  
The Problem Of Evil ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Will ◽  
Hybrid Methodology ◽  
The Way

This chapter introduces the most significant debates surrounding Augustine’s understanding of the will (uoluntas), the hybrid methodology employed in this work, and the thesis that Augustine articulates a theologically differentiated notion of will. Is Augustine’s notion of will original in the history of Western philosophy? Can his affirmation of free will be sustained given his approach to the problem of evil, foreknowledge, predestination, and grace? How does the concept of free will fit, or fail to fit, within the larger scope of Augustine’s thought? Traditional questions in the literature are adumbrated along the way to show the fruitfulness of a theological account.

Hume's Fundamental Problem of Evil

Philosophy ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 89 (4) ◽  
pp. 603-620 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Tarrant
Keyword(s):  
Natural History ◽  
Fundamental Problem ◽  
Problem Of Evil ◽  
History Of Religion ◽  
Human Understanding ◽  
The Problem Of Evil ◽  
History Of

AbstractThe problem of evil for theists was how to reconcile suffering with a benevolent God. Hume solved the problem of evil by claiming that the divine was amoral but not by denying God's existence which he needed in order to advocate his favoured notion of a general providence. Indeed, Hume's treatment of the problem of evil showed that his quarrel in the Natural History of Religion1and the Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding,2Section XI, was with a particular providence rather than the possibility of a divine orderer. The fundamental problem of evil for Hume, was evil's potential to drive people to the notion of a particular providence with its attendant damaging passions. In considering his alternative of the general providence Hume is shown to be closer to theism than has often been thought.

scholarly journals The Theory of Social Contract and Legitimacy Today

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 19-28
Author(s):  
Neophitos Economides
Keyword(s):  
Political Philosophy ◽  
Social Contract ◽  
Final Section ◽  
Ancient Greece ◽  
Political Authority ◽  
The Political ◽  
Renaissance Period ◽  
The Social ◽  
History Of ◽  
Modern Era

Abstract The theory of social contract has played - and still plays - an important role in the central stage of political philosophy. The social contract answers the question of the origin of the society. The history of the theory originates in the ancient Greece political philosophy and extends to the recent years. However, the foundation of the theory resulted in the Renaissance period through the treatises of classical contractarians Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau. The manuscript describes the main arguments regarding the theory of social contract and suggests the main similarities and differences among them. Finally, the manuscript, according to the main description of the theories, suggests the main categorization of their results in legitimizing the political authority. In the final section, the article proposes the contribution of the theory of the social contract to the modern era and summarizes the positive aspects of its arguments to the legitimization of the political authority of modern states.

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