John Paul II and Political Realism; "Defending Human Dignity" by Derek S. Jeffreys
As the world remembers and pays tribute to Pope John Paul II, much ink is being spilled over his life, work, and influence. He brought to the public arena a philosophical and theological vision in the form of a powerful public figure--a rare combination indeed.
(PRWEB) April 9, 2005 -- As the world remembers and pays tribute to Pope John
Paul II, much ink is being spilled over his life, work, and influence. He
brought to the public arena a philosophical and theological vision in the form
of a powerful public figure--a rare combination indeed.
In "Defending
Human Dignity," Derek Jeffreys argues that Pope John Paul II's combined
understanding of philosophy and politics uniquely qualified him to offer a
viable, Christian alternative to the reigning political philosophy of realism
and its resulting consequentialism. The pope prioritized the dignity of the
human person while calling the political tendency to systematically dominate
others exactly what it is: structural sin. Jeffreys argues that the pope, by
refusing to allow utilitarianism to elevate the lowest values to the highest,
held a philosophical position that was not only linked to global action but is
also a significant guide for international politics today.
Praise for
"Defending Human Dignity"
"This unusually accomplished first book makes
dramatically clear what the thought of the present pope has to offer to all
Christians--a vision of how peace ought properly to be sought."
--Paul J.
Griffiths, University of Illinois at Chicago
"For those unfamiliar with
the influence of Scheler on the thought of John Paul II, this book is a welcome
introduction. However, Jeffreys also helpfully puts his account of the pope's
moral and political thought in conversation with the realist school of
international relations. Jeffreys has begun a conversation that needs to take
place."
--Stanley Hauerwas, Duke Divinity School
"This is a very
valuable book. There are many treatments of the various aspects of John Paul
II’s philosophy, but very few that study the application of his philosophy to
practical political thinking on the international scale, as does this
one."
--W. Norris Clarke, S.J., Fordham University
Derek S. Jeffreys
is assistant professor of humanistic studies and religion at the University of
Wisconsin, Green Bay. He holds a Ph.D. in religious ethics from the University
of Chicago. Jeffreys has written the introduction to a recent edition of William
James's distinguished work The Varieties of Religious Experience and was
recently awarded a Templeton Foundation teaching fellowship.
"Defending
Human Dignity" by Derek Jeffreys is now available from Brazos Press
ISBN:
1-58743-092-4 / 240 pages / $19.99 / paperback
# # #
Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/4/prweb226745.htm