Being in Action The Theological Shape of Barth's Ethical Vision

This book investigates the way in which the 'actualistic ontology' - i.e., the fact that God and human agents are beings-in-act in a covenant relationship - that underlies the Church Dogmatics of Karl Barth affects his conception of ethical agency. It analyses this effect along three paths of inquiry: knowing what is right (the noetic dimension), doing what is right (the ontic dimension), and achieving what is right (the telic dimension). The first section of the book explores the discipline of theological ethics as Barth construes it, both in its theoretical status and in its actual practice. In the second section, the ontological import of ethical agency for Barth is considered in relation to the divine action and the divine command. The final section of the book examines the teleological purpose envisaged in this theological ethics in terms of participation, witness, and glorification.

1. IntroductionSection One - Knowing What is Right: Noetic Aspects of Ethical Agency2. The Command of GodA - the command of God in outlineB - the command of God and Scripture3.  The Discipline of Theological EthicsA - inappropriate theological ethicsB - appropriate theological ethicsC - theological ethics and casuistry4. The Practice of Theological EthicsA - the practice of theological ethicsB - the use of Scripture in theological ethicsC - the role of the Church in theological ethicsD - the problems of theological ethicsSection Two - Doing What is Right: Ontic Aspects of Ethical Agency5. The Ethical AgentA - the ethical agent in relation to Jesus ChristB - the ethical agent in distinction from Jesus ChristC - critical analysis of the ethical agent6. Human Action and Divine ActionA - the freedom of the ethical agentB - the relationship between human action and divine actionC - a case study of divine action and human actionD - critical analysis of ethical action7. The Way of Ethical ActionA - the content of conformityB - the aspects of conformityC - the actualism of conformitySection Three - Achieving What is Right: Telic Aspects of Ethical Agency8. The Telos of Ethical ActionA - conformity as participationB - conformity as witnessC - conformity as glorification 9.  Conclusion