Ethics and the Autonomy of Philosophy: Breaking Ties with Traditional Christian Praxis and Theory

In Ethics and the Autonomy of Philosophy Bernard Walker sets out with two objectives. First Walker argues that ethics is autonomous as a discipline. Oftentimes ethics books from a Christian perspective lean toward grounding ethics in theology or in biblical proof texting. Walker departs from this tradition. Ethics grounded in theology entails a limited scope for those doing ethics in that the Christian God must be assumed for both Christian and non-Christian when at the table of ethical dialogue. For the non-Christian this loads the dice and shuts down ethical consensus and dialogue if not ethical truth. With that said this book does not depart from Christian ethical views on such issues as the sanctity of life antiracism the death penalty the objectivity of ethics and the importance of integrating faith into ethics; however Walker does so from a common denominator of philosophy rather than theology. Second Walker ventures into the streets and engages the man/woman on the streets approach to ethics and ethical decision-making. He points out the shortcomings of the ubiquitous views of the man/woman on the streets viz. cultural relativism skepticism and the attitude that ethics is merely a matter of personal choice. There is today a resurgence of interest in philosophical and theological issues concerning God and morality and in this important work Bernard Walker examines a cluster of complex and controversial questions at the heart of the debate. Written by a philosopher who is also a committed Christian this book will stimulate you to consider some familiar issues in fresh ways and to explore more deeply the relation between God Scripture and moral principles. --Harold Netland Director of Religion and Intercultural Studies Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Deerfield IL This is a bold and ambitious volume on ethics that is comprehensive in scope unique in content and full of significant insights. Even those who disagree with Walkers approach will benefit greatly from his discussion of such topics as pop ethics epistemic myopia and the role of philosophy and Scripture in the relationship between religion and ethics. Intended as a companion to an introduction to ethics text it deserves a most wide readership. --David Nah Associate Professor of Theology Bethel Seminary St. Paul St. Paul MN Walker offers an introductory ethics textbook from a broadly Christian perspective without reducing philosophy to theology. He touches on a wide range of controversial ethical issues and takes exception to the published views of various Christian philosophers on ethics. Readers will find an abundance of examples that prompt lively discussion of ethical topics and the relevance of a Christian perspective on morality. --Paul K. Moser Professor and Chairperson Department of Philosophy Loyola University of Chicago Chicago IL Bernard James Walker is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Ethics in the College of Adult and Professional Studies at Bethel University in St. Paul Minnesota.