Lexington Books
Pages: 234
Trim: 6⅜ x 9½
978-0-7391-8685-5 • Hardback • April 2014 • $129.00 • (£99.00)
978-0-7391-8686-2 • eBook • April 2014 • $122.50 • (£95.00)
James E. Gilman is professor emeritus of philosophy and religion at Mary Baldwin College. He is the author of Fidelity of Heart: An Ethic of Christian Virtue and Faith, Reason and Compassion: A Philosophy of the Christian Faith.
Table of Contents
Preface
Chapter 1: Re-enfranchising Benevolence
Part I: Philosophical Inquiry
Chapter 2: Benevolence as a Private Virtue
Chapter 3: Benevolence as a Public Virtue
Part II: Theological Inquiry
Chapter 4: Benevolence and Justice
Chapter 5: Benevolence and Mercy
Chapter 6: Benevolence and Compassion
Part III: Moral Integrity
Chapter 7: Benevolence as Historical Praxis
Chapter 8: Benevolence and a Politics of Mercy
Gilman’s argument is impressive in both its breadth and detail.
— Journal of Church and State
Clear, careful, and balanced. I know of no other book which so well integrates theories of justice with a treatment of mercy, compassion, and benevolence as actually necessary to achieve justice. It is a very fresh take on the topic.
— John A. Coleman S.J., University of San Francisco
This book powerfully advocates for the reestablishment of benevolence in both private and public life. “Mercy trumps justice,” and only mercy as benevolence can redeem either our heart or our society from prior injustices. Insightful and innovative.
— Ted Peters
This is an impressive, erudite, yet easily understood argument that the idea of mercy as benevolence has been privatized in American political thinking and subordinated to the idea of justice in much Christian ethical reasoning—with unfortunate consequences for our public wellbeing. It prompts a greatly needed discussion for generations to come.
— Edward LeRoy Long Jr., Drew University
Simply put, Gilman’s wide-ranging, highly lucid account of “merciful benevolence” is a must read! By disclosing the interpretive range and power of one of the most underappreciated ethical categories in our time, it makes an original contribution to the field of Christian Ethics. Perhaps more significantly, it re-frames wider discourse about how we ought to treat one another.
— Jack A. Hill, Texas Christian University