Ethical Ideas in Literature

Paper Summary:

This paper compares and contrasts ethical dilemmas in two books - "A Language Older Than Words," written by Derrick Jensen and "From Christ to the World: Introductory Readings in Christian Ethics," edited by Wayne G. Boulton, Thomas D. Kennedy and Allen Verhey. It describes the concepts discussed in each work and then finally provides a personal critique discussing why arguments are important.

Table of Contents:
A Language Older Than Words: A Review
From Christ To The World: A Review
Personal Critique: Why Arguments Are Important

From the Paper:

"Fletcher also talks about this under his category "antinomianism": this is the approach which one takes when entering the "decision-making situation armed with no principles or maxims whatsoever, to say nothing of rules." And to carry the analogy along a bit more, with reference to Fletcher's philosophy, did Bush take the antinomianism approach in 2002, 2003, when putting forth the dishonest notion that Saddam Hussein had nuclear weapons and for the safety of all Americans the U.S. military needed to crush him? Most interesting among his three features of Christian ethics is "situationism," which Fletcher places "between" legalism and antinomianism. This third maxim is used when the person is not making a decision based on a rock-solid Christian footing; i.e., the situation dictates whether it's a good idea to go ahead or not. According to "love's needs," Fletcher writes on page 208, the situationist follows "a moral law or violates it."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Fletcher, Joseph. "Three Approaches." In From Christ to the World: Introductory Readings in Christian Ethics, Eds. Wayne G. Boulton, Thomas D. Kennedy, and Allen Verhey, 204-212. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1994.
• Jensen, Derrick. A Language Older Than Words. New York: Context Books, 2000.
• Luther, Martin. "Treatise on Christian Liberty." In From Christ to the World: Introductory Readings in Christian Ethics, Eds. Wayne G. Boulton, Thomas D. Kennedy, and Allen Verhey, 187-204. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1994.
• Meilanender, Gilbert. "Friendship and Fidelity." In From Christ to the World: Introductory Readings in Christian Ethics, Eds. Wayne G. Boulton, Thomas D. Kennedy, and Allen Verhey, 264-270. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1994.
• Ramsey, Paul. "The Problem of Protestant Ethics Today." In From Christ to the World: Introductory Readings in Christian Ethics, Eds. Wayne G. Boulton, Thomas D. Kennedy, And Allen Verhey, 212-214. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1994.

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