Posted by
CRB on Monday, January 07, 2008 5:51:18 PM
I think it's reasonable to say that world views develop over time and are refined by both conflict and challenge. It's certainly true in theology where the discussions about the nature of Christ were debated for more than a century and were finally, for most anyway, clarified by Athanasius.
Philosophy has gone through its share of changes and what was Progressive two centures ago is quite different from what is Progressive today. The classic Liberal was founded in Enlightened Reason as personal motivation but today's Liberal depends on the power of law and government (ala Hegel) to create results.
The world of ethics is equally as topsy-turvy. In the lifetime of many of us, feminism in the 1970s would never renounce the inherent dignity of the Woman. But today, with all of our advanced technology, the outsourced surrogate is the next casualty. Yes, it's cheaper to hire a woman from India to bear your child (as well as write your software and answer your phones). But the situation is not so simple as crossing the border, for even today's feminist must answer the issue of the "surrogate's right to choose" and whether or not this comprises anything other than endentured servitude, and internationized baby-bearing sweath shop for economic advantage. The questions are both political and moral. What about citizenship? What about parenthood rights in these other nations? How about coerced abortion in PROC when the venture enters that country?
Today's ethicist has questions to deal with and principles to devise. The evangelical / Christian ethicist faces the challenge of providing an answer that will be heard clearly enough to make a difference. The Utilitarian has provided only opportunity; public ethics and morality are the only way to control this unrestrained Utility which sometimes masquerades as Freedom, Economy, Opportunity, or Choice. Let us make our voices heard, for everyone's best interest.
Cross-posted at Evangelical Perspective