A Shared Morality
A Narrative Defense of Natural Law Ethics
by Craig A Boyd
Paperback
Price: £12.99
Publisher:Brazos Press imprint of Baker Pub from Lion
Published:2007
ISBN:978-1-587-43162-3
GoodBookStall Review:
Boyd sets his cards honestly on the table in his introduction to this fascinating and interesting book; he has no time for the ‘analytic philosophy’s preoccupation with linguistic analysis’ and he believes there are ‘transcultural moral norms’ which gainsay relativism. On these points he is refreshing and clear. Most helpful, however, to this reviewer, is his careful refutation of the medieval views of human nature, based in Aristotle’s ontology, and also his determination to help his readers move beyond the sexism of the medieval church, so that ‘transcendent moral principles’ are not confused with ‘cultural norms’ ~ and that argument applies within Christian Ethics to much more than just sexism! Boyd warmly welcomes some Postmodern criticism of natural law ethics, noting that ‘moral rhetoric has often been the mask of political interests’, and that ‘convention has often been confused with enduring eternal moral principles’; he gives examples of slavery and the subjugation of women. Boyd's ultimate and original conclusion is that natural law and virtue ethics complement one another. This book is best suited to students of ethics, and, whilst any informed and intelligent reader should benefit from it, it will be especially relevant to those interested in issues of relativism, moral reasoning, and cross-cultural morality. His prose is easy to read and his reasoning clear and fair-minded to opposing positions. I have no hesitation in warmly recommending this book.
Reviewer: Ian Terry (01/05/09)
Boyd sets his cards honestly on the table in his introduction to this fascinating and interesting book; he has no time for the ‘analytic philosophy’s preoccupation with linguistic analysis’ and he believes there are ‘transcultural moral norms’ which gainsay relativism. On these points he is refreshing and clear. Most helpful, however, to this reviewer, is his careful refutation of the medieval views of human nature, based in Aristotle’s ontology, and also his determination to help his readers move beyond the sexism of the medieval church, so that ‘transcendent moral principles’ are not confused with ‘cultural norms’ ~ and that argument applies within Christian Ethics to much more than just sexism! Boyd warmly welcomes some Postmodern criticism of natural law ethics, noting that ‘moral rhetoric has often been the mask of political interests’, and that ‘convention has often been confused with enduring eternal moral principles’; he gives examples of slavery and the subjugation of women. Boyd's ultimate and original conclusion is that natural law and virtue ethics complement one another. This book is best suited to students of ethics, and, whilst any informed and intelligent reader should benefit from it, it will be especially relevant to those interested in issues of relativism, moral reasoning, and cross-cultural morality. His prose is easy to read and his reasoning clear and fair-minded to opposing positions. I have no hesitation in warmly recommending this book.
Reviewer: Ian Terry (01/05/09)
