Download PDF | M. V. Dougherty - Moral Dilemmas in Medieval Thought_ From Gratian to Aquinas -Cambridge University Press (2011).
238 pages
The history of moral dilemma theory often ignores the medieval period, overlooking the sophisticated theorizing by several thinkers who debated the existence of moral dilemmas from around 1150 to 1450. In this book, M. V. Dougherty offers a rich and fascinating overview of the debates which were pursued by medieval philosophers, theologians, and canon lawyers, illustrating his discussion with a diverse range of examples of the moral dilemmas which they considered. He shows that much of what seems particular to twentiethcentury moral theory was well known long ago – especially the view of some medieval thinkers that some forms of wrongdoing are inescapable, and their emphasis on the principle ‘choose the lesser of two evils’. His book will be valuable not only to advanced students and specialists of medieval thought, but also to those interested in the history of ethics.
m. v. dougherty is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Ohio Dominican University. He is the editor of Pico della Mirandola: New Essays (Cambridge, 2008).
Preface
It is a pleasant task to thank those who have assisted me along the way. At Cambridge University Press, Beatrice Rehl first expressed interest in the project and Hilary Gaskin carefully guided the manuscript through the review process. Joanna Garbutt helpfully answered many queries, and Jodie Barnes and Anna Zaranko expertly oversaw the production and copyediting phases of this book. The two anonymous reviewers for the Press gave valuable comments.
My home institution provided material support in the form of a summer research grant and a fall sabbatical. Colleagues Lawrence Masek, Matthew Ponesse, and Perry Cahall read chapter drafts and offered insightful criticisms in addition to welcome company. On various occasions I have presented versions of chapters, and I am grateful to audience members for their questions and comments. In this regard I owe thanks to William Starr, Gregory LaNave, Carl Still, Brian Shanley, OP, John Knasas, Ed Houser, Mary Catherine Sommers, Christopher Martin, John Hittinger, Michael Waddell, John Finnis, James Jacobs, Nicholas Rescher, Michael Ross, Joseph Murphy, SJ, Jeffery Nicholas, W. Matthews Grant, John Simmons, Timothy Yoder, and Michael Henry.
The librarians at Ohio Dominican University’s Spangler Library have been quite helpful, especially Jim Layden, Cathy Kellum, Evelyn Burns, and Joshua Alvarez. I am also grateful to Peter Veracka and Michelle Brown at the Wehrle Library of the Pontifical College Josephinum. The Philosophy Documentation Center granted permission to incorporate revised excerpts of three previously published articles into the fourth and fifth chapters of this book. The original publications were: “Perplexity simpliciter and perplexity secundum quid: a look at some contemporary appeals to St. Thomas Aquinas,” International Philosophical Quarterly (), –; “Thomas Aquinas and divine command theory,” Proceedings of the American Catholic Philosophical Association (), –; “Moral dilemmas and moral luck: reckoning with the Thomistic ethical tradition,” Proceedings of the American Catholic Philosophical Association (), –.
Kurt Pritzl, OP, Richard Taylor, and John Jones have provided helpful guidance to me over the years, and I am pleased to mention my gratitude to them. My parents, Mike and Gilda, have been a continuous source of support in all of my studies. My two young sons, Thomas and Benedict, have managed to extract their father from the Middle Ages on many occasions, and they are a source of great joy. This book is dedicated to my wife, Michelle Ruggaber Dougherty, whose careful comments have improved its content, and whose love has improved its author.
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