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In Ethics at the Edges of Law, Cathleen Kaveny argues that religious moralists should treat the law as a valuable conversation partner, rather than a mere instrument for enforcing judgments about morality and public policy. Using cases and concepts from tort law, contract law, and criminal law, Kaveny shows how they can be used to illuminate the work of some of the most important contemporary Christian ethicists.
List of contents
- Dedication
- Preface
- Introduction
- Part I Narratives and Norms
- Chapter 1 Tradition and Development
- - Engaging John T. Noonan, Jr.
- Chapter 2 Creation and Covenant
- - Engaging Stanley Hauerwas
- Chapter 3 Examples and Rules
- -Engaging Jeffrey Stout
- Part II Love, Justice, and Law
- Chapter 4 Neighbor Love and Legal Precedent
- - Engaging Gene Outka
- Chapter 5 Compassionate Respect and Victims' Voices
- - Engaging Margaret Farley
- Chapter 6 Covenant Fidelity and Culture Wars
- - Engaging Paul Ramsey
- Part III Legal Categories and Theological Problems
- Chapter 7 Juridical Insights and Theological Disputes
- - Engaging Robert E. Rodes, Jr.
- Chapter 8 Second Chances and Statutes of Limitations
- - Engaging Walter Kasper
- Chapter 9 Legalism and Christian Ethics
- - Engaging Grisez and Engelhardt
- Conclusion
About the author
Cathleen Kaveny is the Darald and Juliet Libby Professor of Law and Theology at Boston College. She came to Boston College in 2014 after teaching for many years at the University of Notre Dame. She is a past president of the Society of Christian Ethics and chair of the board of trustees of the Journal of Religious Ethics.
Summary
Ethics at the Edges of Law makes the case that religious moralists should treat the discipline of law as a valuable conversation partner, rather than reducing it to a vehicle for enforcing judgments about morality and public policy. Religious moralists should treat the secular law as a source of moral wisdom and conceptual insight, in the same way that they treat the discipline of philosophy. Cathleen Kaveny develops her argument by showing how the work of a range of important contemporary figures in Christian ethics, including John Noonan, Stanley Hauerwas, and Margaret Farley, can be enriched and illuminated by engagement with particular aspects of the American legal tradition. The book is divided into three parts: Part I, "Narratives and Norms," examines how the workings of the legal tradition can shed light on the development of religious and moral traditions. Part II, "Love, Justice, and Law," uses particular legal cases and controversies to advance questions about the relationship of love and justice in Christian ethics. Part III, "Legal Categories and Theological Problems," shows how legal categories and concepts can help reframe and even resolve particular moral controversies within religious communities. Ethics at the Edges of Law jumpstarts a fruitful, mutually engaged conversation between the American legal tradition and the tradition of Christian ethics.
Additional text
In Ethics at the Edges of Law, Cathleen Kaveny makes a robust and compelling case that the methodology and categories of the law would help theologians clarify their work and navigate the controversies which beset them.
