Christianity and Ethics: A Handbook of Christian Ethics — Archibald B. D. Alexander
D. Alexander You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org . If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title : Christianity and Ethics: A Handbook of Christian Ethics Author : Archibald B. D. Alexander Release date : July 19, 2007 [eBook #22105] Language : English Other information and formats : www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/22105 Credits : E-text prepared by Al Haines *** START OF g. {99}. They have been located where page breaks occurred in the original book. For its Index, a page number has been placed only at the start of that section. CHRISTIANITY AND ETHICS A Handbook of Christian Ethics by ARCHIBALD B. D. ALEXANDER, M.A., D.D. Author of 'A Short History of Philosophy,' 'The Ethics of St. Paul,' etc. London: Duckworth & Co. 3 Henrietta St., Covent Garden 1914 All rights reserved {v} PREFACE The object of this volume is to present a brief but comprehensive view of the Christian conception of the moral life. In order to conform with the requirements of the series to which the volume belongs, the writer has found the task of compression one of almost insurmountable difficulty; and some topics, only less important than those dealt with, have been necessarily omitted. The book claims to be, as its title indicates, simply a handbook or introduction to Christian Ethics. It deals with principles rather than details, and suggests lines of thought instead of attempting an exhaustive treatment of the subject. At the same time, in the author's opinion, no really vital question has been overlooked. The treatise is intended primarily for students, but it is hoped that it may prove serviceable to those who desire a succinct account of the moral and social problems of the present day. A fairly full bibliography has been added, which, along with the references to authorities in the body of the work, may be helpful to those who wish to prosecute the study. For the convenience of readers the book has been divided into four sections, entitled, Postulates, Personality, Character, and Conduct; and a detailed synopsis of contents has been supplied. To the Rev. W. R. Thomson, B.D. of Bellshill, Scotland, who read the chapters in type, and generally put at his disposal much valuable suggestion, the author would record his most sincere thanks. {vii} CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PAGE A PLEA FOR THE STUDY OF CHRISTIAN ETHICS . . . . . . . . . . 1 SECTION A—POSTULATES CHAPTER I THE NATURE AND SCOPE OF ETHICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 I. General Definition. II. Distinctive Features—1. Ideal; 2. Norm; 3. Will. III. Is Ethics a Science? IV. Relation to—1. Logic; 2. Aesthetics; 3. Politics. V. Dependence upon—1. Metaphysics; 2. Psychology. CHAPTER II THE POSTULATES OF CHRISTIAN ETHICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 I. Philosophical Ethics. II. Dogmatics. III. Theological Presuppositions— 1. Christian Idea of God. 2. Christian Doctrine of Sin. 3. Human Responsibility. IV. Authority and Method. CHAPTER III ETHICAL THOUGHT BEFORE CHRIST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 I. In Greece and Rome—Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Stoics. Stoicism and St. Paul. II. In Israel—1. Law; 2. Prophecy; 3. Poetry. Preparatory Character of pre-Christian Morality. SECTION B—PERSONALITY CHAPTER IV THE ESTIMATE OF MAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 I. Conflicting Views of Human Nature— 1. Man by nature Morally Good. 2. Man by nature Totally Depraved. 3. The Christian View. II. Examination of Man's Psychical Nature— 1. The Unity of the Soul. 2. The Divine in Man. 3. The Physical and Mental Life. III. Appeal of Christianity to the Mind. CHAPTER V THE WITNESS OF CONSCIENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 I. Treatment of Conscience— 1. In Greek Poetry and Philosophy. 2. In Old Testament. 3. In New Testament. II. Nature and Origin of Conscience— 1. Intuitionalism. 2. Evolutionalism. III. Validity of Conscience— 1. The Christian View. 2. The Moral Imperatives. 3. The Permanence of Conscience CHAPTER VI 'THE MIRACLE OF THE WILL' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Is Man free to choose the Good? Creative Power of Volition. Aspects of Problem raised. I. Scientific— Man and Physical Necessity. II. Psychological— Determinism and Indeterminism. Criticism of James and Bergson. Spontaneity and Necessity. III. Theological— Divine Sovereignty and Human Freedom. Jesus and Paul—Challenge to the Will. Freedom—a Gift and a Task. SECTION C—CHARACTER CHAPTER VII MODERN THEORIES OF LIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 I. Naturalistic Tendency— 1. Materialistic— (1) Idyllic or Poetic—Rousseau. (2) Philosophic—Feuerbach. (3) Scientific—Haeckel. 2. Utilitarian—Hobbes, Bentham, Mill. 3. Evolutionary—Spencer. 4. Socialistic—Marx, Engels. 5. Individualistic— (1) Aestheticism—Goethe, Schiller. (2) Subjectivism— ( a ) Pessimism—Schopenhauer. ( b ) Optimism—Nietzsche. II. Idealistic Tendency— 1. Kant—Categorical Imperative. 2. Fichte and Hegel—Idea of Personality. 3. James—Pragmatism. 4. Bergson—Vitalism. 5. Eucken—Activism. CHAPTER VIII THE CHRISTIAN IDEAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 Life, as the highest Good. I. Life, in its Individual Aspect— 1. Its Intensity. 2. Its Expansion. 3. 'Eternal Life.' II. Life, in its Social Aspect— 1. 'The Kingdom of God'— Eschatological Interpretation. Untenableness of Interimsethik . 2. Christ's View of Kingdom— (1) A Present Reality—a Gift. (2) A Gradual Development—a Task. (3) A Future Consummation—a Hope. III. Life, in its Godward Aspect— 1. Holiness. 2. Righteousness. 3. Love. CHAPTER IX STANDARD AND MOTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 I. Christ as Example— 1. Portrayal by Synoptists— (1) Artlessness of Disciples. (2) Naturalness of Jesus, 2. Impression of Power— (1) Power of Loyalty to Calling. (2) Power of Holiness. (3) Power of Sympathy. 3. Value of Jesus' Example for Present Life— Misconce