Category Archives: virtue ethics

PJFT

Posted on February 9, 2019 by Quentin

Prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance – the classical cardinal virtues. They read well but their old fashioned names allow us to leave them in the back of our minds. So it might be useful to look at some of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Quentin queries, Spirituality, virtue ethics | 34 Comments

The virtue of virtue

Posted on November 1, 2018 by Quentin

I, and perhaps many of you, came from a generation which was taught morals mainly as a series of rules – most of which were deduced from Scripture, and developed to cover almost every activity available to human beings. These … Continue reading →

Posted in Moral judgment, Quentin queries, virtue ethics | 23 Comments

Are you conscientious?

Posted on June 21, 2018 by Quentin

While the idea of conscience has always been important in the Church, it is certainly much more emphasised in recent times. I would date this from Vatican II when its importance was clearly described. But of course it has always … Continue reading →

Posted in Scripture, Spirituality, virtue ethics | Tagged | 7 Comments

For the love of God

Posted on May 24, 2018 by Quentin

Yes, most of us heard or read Bishop Curry’s sermon at the Royal Wedding. And if we ask the real message he wanted to give, it can be summed up in just a few words. We must discover the power … Continue reading →

Posted in Quentin queries, virtue ethics | Tagged , | 27 Comments

Are you a Stoic within?

Posted on August 24, 2017 by Quentin

Nowadays if we use the word ‘stoic’ we do so informally. Perhaps it refers to someone who bears up despite hard times, or takes pride in bearing pain. At its worst it may be associated with the ethos of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bio-ethics, Catholic Herald columns, Church and Society, Moral judgment, Philosophy, virtue ethics | 4 Comments

The habits of virtue

Posted on January 5, 2017 by Quentin

Were you holier at the end of 2016 than at the beginning? And, if not, perhaps this is the time to think a little about the theology of good resolutions. We recognise that we are at the epitome of faith … Continue reading →

Posted in Bio-ethics, Catholic Herald columns, Neuroscience, virtue ethics | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Amoris Laetitia

Posted on April 14, 2016 by Quentin

Amoris Laetitia – what do you think? I have read the document quite quickly, taking extra care over particular sections. And I have read several initial commentaries. So I give you my early reactions. I am struck by its idiosyncrasy. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bio-ethics, Moral judgment, Pope Francis, Quentin queries, Spirituality, Uncategorized, virtue ethics | 44 Comments

The glorification of conscience

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Quentin

Today we appear to have two different approaches to morality. One is founded in obedience to the Church’s teaching on moral matters; the other is the absolute requirement to follow our subjective conscience. These two notions appear to stand in … Continue reading →

Posted in Bio-ethics, Catholic Herald columns, Moral judgment, virtue ethics | Tagged , , | 75 Comments

LIPS

Posted on January 29, 2015 by Quentin

Humility, as we all know, is a Christian virtue and one which we should try continually to develop. Even Jesus described himself as “meek and humble of heart”. But I wonder whether it is overrated. If we pull ourselves away … Continue reading →

Posted in Moral judgment, Spirituality, virtue ethics | Tagged | 72 Comments

Thirteen weeks to Paradise

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Quentin

“It isn’t what you have, or who you are, or where you are, or what you are doing, that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about it.” Dale Carnegie told us in his How to Win … Continue reading →

Posted in Bio-ethics, Catholic Herald columns, Spirituality, virtue ethics | Tagged | 6 Comments