April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
BOOK REVIEW
Common ground on touchy issues
"Peter Singer and Christian Ethics: Beyond Polarization," Charles C. Camosy (Cambridge University Press, 2011, 278 pp)
Imagine a Catholic moral theologian/bioethicist, focused on life issues, talking with and actively engaging a utilitarian philosopher and ethicist, whose ideas appear to be opposite.
It sounds like an unlikely premise - yet this is exactly what Charles Camosy has done in "Peter Singer and Christian Ethics: Beyond Polarization."
While some Catholics are waging battles against perceived ideological enemies, Camosy takes a different approach. He advances a provocative premise with great potential.
If all we do is constantly argue about differences, entrenching ourselves, very little occurs to advance human dignity and justice. Camosy seeks to change this by creating conversation where there was none before.
If you don't know who Peter Singer is, you do know about his influence. He is a utilitarian philosopher and ethicist whose seminal work was the 1975 book, "Animal Liberation." This book became the cornerstone of the animal rights movement.
Singer went on to author many other works, earning him the praise of many and the scorn of others. He is regularly challenged - and rejected - by many, based on his views on everything from abortion to euthanasia.
Rejecting the low road of disdain, Camosy finds points of engagement with Singer and others. Operating from the perspective that we might all have more in common than imagined, his objective is fostering conversation around these issues.
The book includes chapters exploring abortion, euthanasia, non-human animals and duty to the poor, as well as other ethical matters. Point by point, Camosy examines and illustrates areas that are vast chasms of disagreement - yet he also finds places in which Singer's thoughts align with the Catholic position.
This is not full agreement, but points in which common ground exists. These intersections create opportunities for engagement. For the author, this is how change and transformation begin to happen.
With issues in the public sphere threatening to divide society more than ever, methods are needed for addressing ethical concerns that impact everyone. The mention of abortion, for example, sends many into rage at both ends of the spectrum, shutting down all conversation.
Important public debate about end-of-life issues, care for the poor and disabled, and other matters of dignity and justice is stalled or reversed. Underscoring a consistent ethic of life can't happen when we vilify those who see otherwise and walk away.
Engagement to further justice and human dignity is what Camosy seeks with Singer, who stands out as an oppositional thinker.
Acknowledging that we must live with the conviction of our faith, this book shows ways to move the conversation forward. Camosy offers his own clear positions, along with methodologies to find shared spaces and potential change.
As someone who has struggled with some of these issues, I have a special appreciation for a book that calls for engagement, rather than retreat. This is not a mass-market paperback; it is an academic publication. I am not an ethicist or academic, but I found the book highly accessible. That is why I believe this is an important volume, and worth reading.
Camosy's writing style is clear and direct, easy to read and follow. It may not be a book for the masses, but I recommend it to anyone interested in ethics and life issues, especially if he or she is serious about creating change. This book offers no facile solutions, but it does aim to advance public discourse on challenging topics - and, in that, it succeeds.
(Mrs. Szpylczyn is a Catholic writer who works at Immaculate Conception parish in Glenville and blogs at http://pastoralpostings.wordpress.com, http://blog.timesunion.com/bread and http://stedwardsblog.wordpress.com.)[[In-content Ad]]
250 X 250 AD
250 X 250 AD
Events
250 X 250 AD
Comments:
You must login to comment.