Christian ethicists
Christian ethics, also known as moral theology, is a multi-faceted ethical system: it is a virtue ethic which focuses on building moral character, and a deontological ethic which emphasizes duty. It also incorporates natural law ethics, which is built on the belief that it is the very nature of humans – created in the image of God and capable of morality, cooperation, rationality, discernment and so on – that informs how life should be lived, and that awareness of sin does not require special revelation.: 93 Other aspects of Christian ethics, represented by movements such as the social Gospel and liberation theology, may be combined into a fourth area sometimes called prophetic ethics.: 3–4 Christian ethics derives its metaphysical core from the Bible, seeing God as the ultimate source of all power.
6 episodes
Episodes in this category also belong to the following categories:
Abelard and Heloise
Melvyn Bragg discusses the story of Abelard and Heloise, a medieval tale of literature and philosophy, love and scandal in the high Middle Ages.
5 May 2005
Featuring: A. C. Grayling, Henrietta Leyser, Michael Clanchy
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Bonhoeffer's ideas about Christian ethics, the role of the Church in a secular world, and his attempts to overthrow Hitler.
27 September 2018
Featuring: Stephen Plant, Eleanor McLaughlin, Tom Greggs
Elizabeth Anscombe
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the influential thinker who rejuvenated moral philosophy in the postwar period.
22 June 2023
Featuring: Rachael Wiseman, Constantine Sandis, Roger Teichmann
PhilosophyCambridge University Moral Sciences ClubBritish philosophers of languageAction theoristsRoman Catholic writersFellows of Somerville College, OxfordAlumni of Newnham College, CambridgeWittgensteinian philosophersPresidents of the Aristotelian SocietyAnalytic philosophersDeaths from kidney failure in the United KingdomVirtue ethicistsChristian ethicistsFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesCatholic philosophersConverts to Roman CatholicismBritish women philosophersBritish philosophers of mindBertrand Russell Professors of Philosophy20th-century British philosophersFellows of the British AcademyKarl Barth
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the Swiss theologian who aimed to put God and Christ at the heart of Christianity when he saw others making humanity and self-revelation its focus.
07 December 2023
Featuring: Stephen Plant, Christiane Tietz, Tom Greggs
ReligionFellows of the American Academy of Arts and SciencesExistentialist theologiansFilioqueAcademic staff of the University of GöttingenSystematic theologiansProtestants in the German Resistance20th-century Swiss writersPeople associated with the University of BaselChristian ethicistsDuke University facultyKierkegaard
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the rich and radical ideas of Soren Kierkegaard, often called the father of Existentialism.
20 March 2008
Featuring: Jonathan Rée, Clare Carlisle, John Lippitt
PhilosophyEpistemologists19th-century essayistsChristian humanistsUniversity of Copenhagen alumniMetaphilosophersExistentialistsPhilosophers of deathPhilosophers of literatureExistentialist theologians19th-century male writersChristian poetsSocial philosophersPhilosophy writersAphoristsChristian ethicistsIrony theoristsPhilosophers of culturePeople celebrated in the Lutheran liturgical calendarPhilosophers of psychologyPhilosophers of artChristian radicalsOntologistsPhilosophers of lovePhilosophers of mindMetaphysicians19th-century pseudonymous writers19th-century deaths from tuberculosisPhilosophers of religionSt Thomas Aquinas
Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss St Thomas Aquinas, the Catholic Church's foremost western philosopher and theologian.
17 September 2009
Featuring: Martin Palmer, John Haldane, Annabel Brett
PhilosophyMedieval Latin-language poets13th-century philosophersCritics of atheismNatural law ethicistsMagic (supernatural)Lutheran saintsThomas AquinasPhilosophers of lawDoctors of the Church13th-century writers in LatinAristotelian philosophersWriters about religion and scienceAngelic visionariesVirtue ethicistsChristian ethicistsCatholic philosophersSystematic theologiansChristian apologistsScholastic philosophersClassical theismMetaphysiciansDominican mysticsAnglican saintsUniversity of Paris alumni