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Moral Absolutes: Tradition, Revision, and Truth (Michael J. McGivney Lectures of the John Paul II Institute f)

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This concise book is a much needed defence of the idea that there are exceptionless moral norms. Modernist theologians will not enjoy the way in which Finnis shows that their espousal of a proportianalist ethic is completely at odds with the entire Christian tradition. As well as thoroughly documenting the manipulation of textual evidence made by theological proportionalists, Finnis pungently demonstrates the philosophical incoherence of their position. In so doing, Finnis has many interesting things to say about the nature of freedom, and its relation to moral absolutes, and how our relation to intelligible goods and integral human fulfillment generates unconditional oughts in a way that doesn't fall foul of the Naturalistic fallacy. The final chapter of the book suggests that the proportianalist philosophy took hold amongst certain heterodox Catholic thinkers in an attempt to justify contraceptive sexual acts. The result of this attempt has been to promote an ethic which rejects not only the Church's teaching on contraception, but also the idea of any exceptionless moral norms. The irrationality of the arguments used in favour of proportionalism suggests a motivation on the part of modern theologians, far removed from the pursuit of truth. Admirers of Finnis will not be disappointed by this book, which furthers his reputation as one of the most important Natural Law thinkers.