Religion and the Common Good: Catholic Contributions to Building Community in a Liberal SocietyThe term "common good" has often been ill-defined or undefined in political, philosophical, and theological discourses. Brian Stiltner seeks to repair this deficit in his study Religion and the Common Good. He explores the meaning of the common good and the prospects for pursuing it in a liberal society. Focusing on the conceptions of common good in liberalism and communitarianism--the former stressing individual rights and social tolerance, the latter stressing a community's shared history and social practices--Stiltner argues that the two theories are not as irreconcilable as they seem, that they can be combined into a "communal liberalism." Stiltner provides an outline of the twentieth-century Catholic common good theory as an example of such a synthesis. A fascinating study, Religion and the Common Good will be an invaluable volume for scholars of social ethics, religion, theology, philosophy and political science. |
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Religion and the Common Good: Catholic Contributions to Building Community ... Brian Stiltner No preview available - 1999 |
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abortion debate affirm approach argue argument articulate basic believers chapter Christian churches citizens civic civil society claims common good theory communal liberalism comprehensive doctrines conception consensus consider constitutional contributions cooperation cultural democracy democratic develop ethic faith fetus framework freedom gious human dignity human flourishing human person human rights ideal of public ideas important individual intellectual issue Jacques Maritain Jerusalem John Locke John Rawls justice as fairness liberal and communitarian liberal society liberalism's liberty live Locke Locke's means Mendelssohn Michael Sandel Moses Mendelssohn Mulhall and Swift natural law theory neutral overlapping consensus particular philosophical pluralism pluralist society policies political community Political Liberalism political society political thought position practical pregnancy promote public reason questions Rawls Rawls's Rawlsian relation reli religion religious belief religious pluralism role Sandel soci subcommunities substantive theological theory of justice Thomistic tions toleration understanding University Press values women