Background
Nelson, Paul Thomas was born on November 29, 1952 in Hinsdale, Illinois, United States. Son of Everett W. and Helen B. (Thomas) Nelson.
( This book analyzes a rich and diverse body of philosoph...)
This book analyzes a rich and diverse body of philosophical and theological literature concerning the import of narrative for the understanding of morality. Nelson begins by examining the theses that to understand oneself, a tradition, and history as a whole, they must be understood in the context of a narrative. Recent philosophical writings on the relation of narrative to the moral concepts of social groups and individuals—including Alasdair MacIntyre's proposal for the rehabilitation of an ethic of virtue shaped by narrative—are explored. Issues discussed include the freedom of moral agents in relation to their narratives, the relation between narrative and universal moral rules, and the problem of relativism. Next, Nelson classifies theological uses of narrative as belonging to either a liberal-universalistic or postliberal-particularistic tradition and considers the implications of construing scripture as narrative for the problematic relation between scripture and ethics. The work of Stanley Hauerwas, the foremost narrativist in Christian ethics, is analyzed at length. Nelson argues that while narrative is a necessary focus, it does not exhaust the methodological agenda. Narrative is not, as its advocates sometimes suggest, a universal solvent for every theological problem and disagreement. An adequate Christian ethics must not lose sight of the universal, narrative-independent features of morality. Since the realm of the moral is an interweaving of narrative-dependent and narrative-independent features, Christian ethics stands to profit from both narrativist (coherentist) and rationalist (foundationalist) insights. The role of narrative is demonstrably a major topic of conversation across several fields in religious studies today. Particularly designed for scholars in ethics, theology, and the philosophy of religion, the book is a reliable guide to an expanding literature and a judicious introduction to these interdisciplinary discussions.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0271026588/?tag=2022091-20
Nelson, Paul Thomas was born on November 29, 1952 in Hinsdale, Illinois, United States. Son of Everett W. and Helen B. (Thomas) Nelson.
AB magna cum laude, Princeton University, 1974; Master of Divinity, Yale University, 1977; Master of Arts, Yale University, 1979; Master of Philosophy, Yale University, 1981; Doctor of Philosophy, Yale University, 1984.
Research associate Lutheran Church in American, New York City, 1982-1984. Visiting assistant professor theology University Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana, 1984-1985. Associate professor, chairman department religion Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio, since 1985.
(This book analyzes a rich and diverse body of philosophic...)
( This book analyzes a rich and diverse body of philosoph...)
Member American Academy Religion, Society Christian Ethics.
Married Susan Jean Baker, May 15, 1977. Children: Katherine, John.