Wealth, virtue, and moral luck : Christian ethics in an age of inequality /
Saved in:
Author / Creator: | Ward, Kate, 1983- author. |
---|---|
Imprint: | Washington, DC : Georgetown University Press, [2021] |
Description: | xii, 265 pages ; 23 cm. |
Language: | English |
Series: | Moral traditions series Moral traditions series. |
Subject: | |
Format: | Print Book |
URL for this record: | http://pi.lib.uchicago.edu/1001/cat/bib/12709806 |
ISBN: | 9781647121372 164712137X 9781647121389 1647121388 9781647121396 |
---|---|
Notes: | Includes bibliographical references (pages 233-258) and index. |
Summary: | "In this book, Kate Ward addresses the issue of inequality from the perspective of Christian virtue ethics. Her unique contribution is to argue that moral luck, our individual life circumstances, affects one's ability to pursue virtue. She argues that economic status functions as moral luck and impedes the ability of both the wealthy and the impoverished to pursue virtues such as prudence, justice, and temperance. The book presents social science evidence that inequality reduces empathy for others' suffering, and increases violence, fear, and the desire to punish others. For the wealthy, inequality creates "hyperagency" - abundant freedom, power, and choice beyond that enjoyed by other members of society. For the poor, scarcity of time, money, and other important goods can also impair their ability to pursue virtue. Having established the theological harm caused by inequality, Ward then makes the argument that both individual Christians and Christian communities have obligations to address the impact of inequality. As individuals, Christians should pursue what Ward calls encounter, conversion, and contentment. Encounter means genuinely reaching out to the less fortunate and spending enough time to get to know individuals as human beings. For Ward, conversion means informing oneself about the realities of poverty and inequality. Contentment means being satisfied with one's position and not striving for more material wealth. Christian communities, in Ward's view, have obligations to pursue political action, tithing, and aid, and to foster encounters in parishes and educational settings"-- |
Other form: | Online version: Ward, Kate, 1983- Wealth, virtue, and moral luck Washington, DC : Georgetown University Press, 2021. 9781647121396 |
Similar Items
-
Wealth and poverty /
Published: (1988) -
Famine, affluence, and morality /
by: Singer, Peter, 1946-
Published: (2016) -
A word of remembrance and caution to the rich /
by: Woolman, John, 1720-1772
Published: (1794) -
A word of remembrance and caution to the rich /
by: Woolman, John, 1720-1772
Published: (1794) -
Distant strangers : ethics, psychology, and global poverty /
by: Lichtenberg, Judith
Published: (2014)