Originally published in 1927, this book stands as a pertinent, original, and insightful contribution to contemporary ethics. Kirk addresses the rationale for moral thought, the role of the church as a moral community, and the handling of problematic moral situations through a case-by case analysis (an approach known as casuistry). What is the church to make of Jack Kevorkian? Kirk provides a framework for responding to such issues. The book has an introduction by David H. Smith. Contents Include: General Editors' Introduction Introduction by David H. Smith Author's Notes to 1948 and 1936 Edition Principal Abbreviations Introductory Part One: Conscience and Casuistry - Moral Judgements Moral Judgements and Moral Taste Conscience and Emotions Intuitions Indifferent Acts "I Ought" and "I May" Personification of Conscience Loyalty - Conscience and the Community Loyalty Relativity of Moral Law Custom and Re-Interpretation The Church of England What Loyalty Involves Loyalty and Casuistry Casuistry - Cases of Conscience The Equipment of the Casuist The Misuse of Casuistry Judaism Stoicism Casuistry and Christianity - Casuistry and the Gospels St. Paul The First Experiments The Abbot Joseph and St. Augustine The Middle Ages Post-Reformation Casuistry Part II - Problems of Conscience- Error - Conscientious Nonconformity Discipline, Suasion and Force Liberty of the Christian Limitation of Liberty Refusal of Communion and Refusal of Absolution Doubt - The Doubts of Anglicans The Benefit of the Doubt Probabilism and its Safeguards Fasting Comunion Confession Clerical Celibacy The Papal Claims Birth Control Betting and Gambling Perplexity -Duty and Desire Conflicts of Evils Problems of Truthfulness Lies, Pardonable and Unpardonable General Strikes The Ethics of Compromise Commercial Honesty Conclusion Additional Notes: Definition of Conscience Two Modern Views of Casuistry Probable Opinions Limitations of the Probabilism Doubt and Perplexity A Roman Catholic Moralist on Lying Objective and Subjective Necessity for Salvation Index of Authors and Subjects
