Michael Banner is a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and has held chairs at the University of Edinburgh and King's college, London. He has also chaired an advisory panel on issues to do with the use of animals in scientific experiments, and is a board member of the Human Tissue Authority. He is the author of Christian Ethics and Contemporary Moral Problems (1999) and The Justification of Science and the Rationality of Religious Belief (1990).

"One might expect such a history to begin with the Bible, but Banner starts with a small work from the early Church: the Rule of St. Benedict (550 C.E.), which he claims is the paradigmatic framework with which to understand Christian ethics. . . Although Banner states that he does not intend to defend Christianity, his positive opinion of it emerges (which is not of itself a short-coming)." (Philosophy in Review, August 2010)"For a book so short, it is disproportionately powerful, and far from being an 'idiot's guide' it has its own distinctive voice and case to offer." (Regent's Reviews, April 2010)"As the title of the present volume indicates, the aim of the book is to provide a brief history of Christian ethics. The author does this by engaging with key figures and their thought, including Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and Martin Luther, which allows him to draw out the challenges to Christian ethics, which Nietzsche and other nineteenth-century thinkers as well as contemporary relativism have presented." (Journal of Contemporary Religion)"This book is part of a series that aims to present 'brief, accessible, and lively accounts of key topics within theology and religion.' This history of Christian ethics succeeds in all three aims." (CHOICE, October 2009)

• Preface viiiIntroduction 11 Benedict and the Practice of the Christian Life 102 Augustine, God, and Human Nature: The Theory of the Christian Life 233 Thomas Aquinas: Natural Law and the Loss of Christian Ethics 424 Martin Luther: Against Ethics 565 Butler, Kant, and Kierkegaard: The Turn to the Subject 716 Nietzsche and the Genealogists: Suspecting the Subject 867 Karl Barth and John Paul II: The Rediscovery of Christian Ethics 998 History in the Present: Genetics, Philosophy, and Christian Life 114Suggestions for Further Reading 137Bibliography 141Index 145

Michael Banner is a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and has held chairs at the University of Edinburgh and King's college, London. He has also chaired an advisory panel on issues to do with the use of animals in scientific experiments, and is a board member of the Human Tissue Authority. He is the author of Christian Ethics and Contemporary Moral Problems (1999) and The Justification of Science and the Rationality of Religious Belief (1990).

"One might expect such a history to begin with the Bible, but Banner starts with a small work from the early Church: the Rule of St. Benedict (550 C.E.), which he claims is the paradigmatic framework with which to understand Christian ethics. . . Although Banner states that he does not intend to defend Christianity, his positive opinion of it emerges (which is not of itself a short-coming)." (Philosophy in Review, August 2010)"For a book so short, it is disproportionately powerful, and far from being an 'idiot's guide' it has its own distinctive voice and case to offer." (Regent's Reviews, April 2010)"As the title of the present volume indicates, the aim of the book is to provide a brief history of Christian ethics. The author does this by engaging with key figures and their thought, including Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and Martin Luther, which allows him to draw out the challenges to Christian ethics, which Nietzsche and other nineteenth-century thinkers as well as contemporary relativism have presented." (Journal of Contemporary Religion)"This book is part of a series that aims to present 'brief, accessible, and lively accounts of key topics within theology and religion.' This history of Christian ethics succeeds in all three aims." (CHOICE, October 2009)

• Preface viiiIntroduction 11 Benedict and the Practice of the Christian Life 102 Augustine, God, and Human Nature: The Theory of the Christian Life 233 Thomas Aquinas: Natural Law and the Loss of Christian Ethics 424 Martin Luther: Against Ethics 565 Butler, Kant, and Kierkegaard: The Turn to the Subject 716 Nietzsche and the Genealogists: Suspecting the Subject 867 Karl Barth and John Paul II: The Rediscovery of Christian Ethics 998 History in the Present: Genetics, Philosophy, and Christian Life 114Suggestions for Further Reading 137Bibliography 141Index 145

Michael Banner is a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, and has held chairs at the University of Edinburgh and King's college, London. He has also chaired an advisory panel on issues to do with the use of animals in scientific experiments, and is a board member of the Human Tissue Authority. He is the author of Christian Ethics and Contemporary Moral Problems (1999) and The Justification of Science and the Rationality of Religious Belief (1990).

"One might expect such a history to begin with the Bible, but Banner starts with a small work from the early Church: the Rule of St. Benedict (550 C.E.), which he claims is the paradigmatic framework with which to understand Christian ethics. . . Although Banner states that he does not intend to defend Christianity, his positive opinion of it emerges (which is not of itself a short-coming)." (Philosophy in Review, August 2010)"For a book so short, it is disproportionately powerful, and far from being an 'idiot's guide' it has its own distinctive voice and case to offer." (Regent's Reviews, April 2010)"As the title of the present volume indicates, the aim of the book is to provide a brief history of Christian ethics. The author does this by engaging with key figures and their thought, including Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and Martin Luther, which allows him to draw out the challenges to Christian ethics, which Nietzsche and other nineteenth-century thinkers as well as contemporary relativism have presented." (Journal of Contemporary Religion)"This book is part of a series that aims to present 'brief, accessible, and lively accounts of key topics within theology and religion.' This history of Christian ethics succeeds in all three aims." (CHOICE, October 2009)

• Preface viiiIntroduction 11 Benedict and the Practice of the Christian Life 102 Augustine, God, and Human Nature: The Theory of the Christian Life 233 Thomas Aquinas: Natural Law and the Loss of Christian Ethics 424 Martin Luther: Against Ethics 565 Butler, Kant, and Kierkegaard: The Turn to the Subject 716 Nietzsche and the Genealogists: Suspecting the Subject 867 Karl Barth and John Paul II: The Rediscovery of Christian Ethics 998 History in the Present: Genetics, Philosophy, and Christian Life 114Suggestions for Further Reading 137Bibliography 141Index 145