E-text prepared by Al Haines
Transcriber's note:
Page numbers in this book are indicated by numbers enclosed in curly braces, e.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.
A Handbook of Christian Ethics
by
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}
The object of this volume is to present a brief but comprehensive viewof the Christian conception of the moral life. In order to conformwith the requirements of the series to which the volume belongs, thewriter has found the task of compression one of almost insurmountabledifficulty; and some topics, only less important than those dealt with,have been necessarily omitted. The book claims to be, as its titleindicates, simply a handbook or introduction to Christian Ethics. Itdeals with principles rather than details, and suggests lines ofthought instead of attempting an exhaustive treatment of the subject.At the same time, in the author's opinion, no really vital question hasbeen overlooked. The treatise is intended primarily for students, butit is hoped that it may prove serviceable to those who desire asuccinct account of the moral and social problems of the present day.
A fairly full bibliography has been added, which, along with thereferences to authorities in the body of the work, may be helpful tothose who wish to prosecute the study. For the convenience of readersthe book has been divided into four sections, entitled, Postulates,Personality, Character, and Conduct; and a detailed synopsis ofcontents has been supplied.
To the Rev. W. R. Thomson, B.D. of Bellshill, Scotland, who read thechapters in type, and generally put at his disposal much valuablesuggestion, the author would record his most sincere thanks.
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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.
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.
I. In Greece and Rome—Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Stoics.