Interruption that liberates to love. On the positive potential of the ‘paradox of ethics’

ABSTRACT

In this contribution, I take Nicholas Adams’ discussion of the paradox of ethics as an occasion to further explore our present moral situation and the possibilities of ethics in it. This situation is characterised by pluralism of moral views, which gives rise to relativist and cynical reactions as well as to strong, polarising expressions. These tendencies feed a suspicion towards ethical reflection. In light of the paradox of ethics as discussed by Adams this may seem justified. I will argue, however, for a more constructive role for ethics. This can be elaborated by focusing on the transcendent character of the good, which is implied in the paradox. I will explore this transcendent character by turning to a Christian perspective on morality that elaborates this transcendence in a specific constructive way. From this perspective, the experience of the loss of self-evidence around which the paradox of ethics revolves may be seen as beneficial. It opens human beings to a transcendent good to which they can entrust themselves for a renewal of life. Thus, the good can be seen as something that makes an appeal to us that can liberate to a love that transcends doing good as a human project.

KEYWORDS:

• Paradox of ethics
• interruption
• truth
• value ethics
• pluralism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. Jüngel, “Value-free Truth,” 204–205.

2. Jüngel, “Value-free Truth,” 212.

3. For this, he refers to the ethics of Max Scheler and Nicolai Hartmann.

4. Jüngel, “Value-free Truth,” 191, 194.

5. Jüngel, “Value-free Truth,” 199, 212.

6. Jüngel, “Value-free Truth,” 203.

7. Jüngel, “Value-free Truth,” 206–207.

8. Jüngel, “Value-free Truth,” 209.

9. Jüngel, “Value-free Truth,” 213.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Petruschka Schaafsma

Petruschka Schaafsma is Professor of Theological Ethics at the Protestant Theological University in the Netherlands. She runs a research program in the field of ethics and theology on the meaning of family, with special attention for the aspects of givenness and dependence (Family and Christian Ethics, Cambridge University Press, 2023). She is project leader of the Moral Compass Project which explores the potential of views of divine law for current morality (The Transcendent Character of the Good, Routledge 2022).