Theology and the Science of Moral Action

Theology and the Science of Moral Action explores a new approach to ethical thinking that promotes dialogue and integration between recent research in the scientific study of moral cognition and behaviour-including neuroscience, moral psychology, and behavioural economics-and virtue theoretic approaches to ethics in both philosophy and theology. The book evaluates the concept of moral exemplarity and its significance in philosophical and theological ethics as well as for ongoing research programs in the cognitive sciences.

Introduction James A. Van Slyke Part I: A Science of Morality: A Place for Exemplars and Virtue 1. Empirical Approaches to Virtue Science: Observing Exemplarity in the Lab Warren S. Brown, Michael L. Spezio, Kevin S. Reimer, James A. Van Slyke, Gregory R. Peterson 2. Virtue, Science, and Exemplarity: An Overview Gregory R. Peterson 3. Relating Political Theory and Virtue Science: A Reflection on Human Dignity, Empathy, and the Capabilities Approach Michael L. Spezio 4. A Modest Polemic for Virtuous Pride Kevin S. Reimer and Kyle Matsuda Part II: Exemplarity, Science, and Virtue: Philosophical Perspectives 5. Exemplarism: Some Considerations Gregory R. Peterson 6. Naturalizing Moral Exemplarity: Contemporary Science and Human Nature James A. Van Slyke 7. The Moral Authority of Exemplars Linda Zagzebski 8. Neuroscience, the Trolley Problem, and Moral Virtue Craig A. Boyd Part III: Exemplarity, Science, and Virtue: Theological Perspectives 9. Hardwired for Drama? Theological Speculations on Cognitive Science, Empathy, and Moral Exemplarity Charlene P. E. Burns 10. Ethics, Exemplarity, and Atonement F. LeRon Shults 11. Types of Love and Types of Exemplars: Implications for Virtue Science Thomas J. Oord 12. The Virtues and Intellectual Disability: Explorations in the (Cognitive) Sciences of Moral Formation Amos Yong Notes List of Contributors Index