Divine Motivation Theory

At the core of the book lies a new form of virtue theory based on emotions.

Widely regarded as one of the foremost figures in contemporary philosophy of religion, this book by Linda Zagzebski is a major contribution to ethical theory and theological ethics. At the core of the book lies a form of virtue theory based on the emotions. Quite distinct from deontological, consequentialist and teleological virtue theories, this one has a particular theological, indeed Christian, foundation. The theory helps to resolve philosophical problems and puzzles of various kinds: the dispute between cognitivism and non-cognitivism in moral psychology, the claims and counterclaims of realism and anti-realism in the metaphysics of value, and paradoxes of perfect goodness in natural theology, including the problem of evil. As with Zagzebski's previous Cambridge book Virtues of the Mind, this book will be sought out eagerly by a broad swathe of professionals and graduate students in philosophy and religious studies.

Part I. Motivation-Based Virtue Ethics: 1. Constructing an ethical theory; 2. Making emotion primary; 3. Goods and virtues; 4. Acts and obligation; Part II. Divine Motivation Theory: 5. The virtues of God; 6. The moral importance of the incarnation; 7. The paradoxes of perfect goodness; 8. The problem of evil; Part III. Ethical Pluralism: 9. Ideal observers, ideal agents, and moral diversity.

At the core of this 2004 book lies a form of virtue theory based on the emotions. Distinct from deontological, consequentialist and teleological virtue theories, this one has a particular theological, indeed Christian, foundation. This book will be sought out by professionals and graduate students in philosophy and religious studies.

Linda Trinkaus Zagzebski is Kingfisher College Chair of the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics and Professor of Philosophy at the University of Oklahoma.