The moral virtues and theological ethics

Abstract

Over the past decade a quiet revolution has been gathering momentum in the fields of moral philosophy and Christian ethics. These disciplines are undergoing a decisive shift as duty, obligation, and decision yield their central role in the understanding of the moral life to the long neglected concepts of virtue, character, and action. Romanus Cessario presents here a general introduction to the study of Christian moral virtues that reflects the emergence of this new and compelling vision of the moral life. Moral Virtues and Theological Ethics provides an account of the nature of the moral virtues by explaining how the virtues work in our everyday lives. The book begins with a brief survey of the current work in theological ethics and the present state of virtue theory in contemporary theology. Cessario's account of the notion of habitus, or disposition, introduces his discussion of virtue. This notion supplies the basis for his explanation of how the moral virtues enhance our psychological and spiritual capacities and how the virtue of prudence directs moral action. Finally, the author explicates the nature and grace of growth in the moral virtues, and of maturity in the life of the Holy Spirit. A feature of this book is that it presents a general theory of the virtues that a student can then apply to any particular moral virtue.

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