Wealth, virtue, and moral luck : Christian ethics in an age of inequality / Kate Ward.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ward, Kate, 1983- author.

Series:

Moral traditions series.

Moral Traditions Series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Christian ethics.

Equality--Moral and ethical aspects.

Equality.

Poverty--Moral and ethical aspects.

Poverty.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : Georgetown University Press, [2021]

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"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction : Reframing the Problem of Inequality

Groundwork

Christian Virtue Ethics

Toward a Christian Virtue Account of Moral Luck

Defining Wealth and Poverty for Christian Virtue Ethics

Wealth and Virtue : The Dangers of Hyperagency

The Impact of Poverty on Virtue

How Inequality Impacts Virtue.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9781647121372

164712137X

OCLC:

1235901730