Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

"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"--

Christian ethics --- Equality --- Wealth --- Poverty --- Christian ethics. --- Moral and ethical aspects.

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)

Many people are increasingly concerned about economic inequality within their own nations, or between wealthy nations and poor ones. But is today's vast economic inequality best addressed by appeals to ethics, by altering social structures such as taxes and laws, or some combination of the two approaches? This volume brings together leading scholars from across the disciplines who believe today's extreme economic inequality threatens human flourishing and who are determined to address it using their own disciplinary tools. The broadly interdisciplinary volume incorporates contributions from fields as varied as theology, philosophy, economics, education, social work, sociology and law. Our work together illustrates how incorporating a variety of perspectives in a conversation enriches religious and ethical reflection on a significant social ill, and how quantitative and secular fields can help offer practical solutions to contemporary ethical problems.

inequality --- living wage --- economic inequality --- earned income tax credit

Choose an application

• Reference Manager
• EndNote
• RefWorks (Direct export to RefWorks)