The best contemporary English-language resource on pursuing a universal ethics In this volume twenty-three major scholars comment on and critically evaluate In Search of a Universal Ethic, the 2009 document written by the International Theological Commission (ITC) of the Catholic Church. That historic document represents an official Church contribution both to a more adequate understanding of a universal ethic and to Catholicism’s own tradition of reflection on natural law. The essays in this book reflect the ITC document’s complementary emphases of dialogue across traditions (universal ethic) and reflection on broadly applicable ethical guidance within the Christian tradition (natural law). Among other things, the document situates the natural law ethical tradition within the larger search for a universal ethic. Along with its insightful essays, Searching for a Universal Ethic offers — for the first time in published form — the Vatican’s official English translation of In Search of a Universal Ethic. Contributors: John Berkman Serge-Thomas Bonino, O.P. David Burrell, C.S.C. Lisa Sowle Cahill Joseph E. Capizzi David Cloutier Anver M. Emon Robert P. George Sherif Girgis Jennifer A. Herdt Russell Hittinger M. Cathleen Kaveny Anthony J. Kelly, C.Ss.R. Fergus Kerr, O.P. Steven A. Long William C. Mattison III Gilbert Meilaender Livio Melina Michael S. Northcott David Novak Jean Porter Martin Rhonheimer Tracey Rowland

This book investigates Albert Schweitzer’s research on China, which first emerged in the 1910s and ended in 1939/40. Schweitzer’s China research evolved alongside the development of his “Kulturphilosophie” research for over a quarter of a century. In “Part I: In Preparation,” this book will mainly focus on the historical background against which Schweitzer formulated his Reverence for Life and established his networks with the China experts. In “Part II: In Progress,” Schweitzer’s periodic research outcomes, which were presented in several of his publications and manuscripts, will be studied. Subsequently, in “Part III: In Completion,” Richard Wilhelm’s translation of the Yi Jing, which lay down the fundamental principles for Chinese thought, Schweitzer’s final manuscript from 1939/40 under the title Geschichte des indischen und chinesischen Denkens, and his final depiction of Chinese thought will be given special attention. The starting point for Schweitzer’s China research was his ideal ethical philosophy of Reverence for Life, which he formulated in the context of the decline of the Western civilization and was heavily shaped by his religious and philosophical convictions. Reverence for Life underscored humanistic concerns, and its ideals eventually became Schweitzer’s interpretative principles in his investigation of Chinese thought. Schweitzer was never a specialist in Chinese thought and Chinese civilization. Dependent on the research of European sinologists, his China research served to justify the necessity for Reverence for Life as well as of the methods for applying this new ethical philosophy. During his entire China research, Schweitzer made great efforts to critically interpret and transform the knowledge that had been conveyed by European sinologists such as Richard Wilhelm. Although in his final research Schweitzer had already seen great resemblance between classical Confucianism in China and his Reverence for Life, he did not ultimately manage to verify his assumptions. His final manuscript on Chinese thought from 1939/40 remained unpublished when he passed away in 1965.

The International Theological Commission would like to contribute to the current debate over the search for a universal ethic, and fight the increasing separation between the ethical order, on one hand, and the economic, social, legal, and political order on the other hand. It is inspired by the natural law written by St. Thomas Aquinas and incorporates new elements to show that the natural law is not abolished, but rather is brought to its completion through the law of love.

Introduction: In search of universal values / Karl-Josef Kuschel, Dietmar Mieth -- Towards a common ethical code for humankind: address to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences 2001 / John Paul II -- The need for a global ethic: declaration by the eighth General Assembly in Harare 1998 / World Council of Churches -- Global order and global ethic / Konrad Raiser -- The 1993 Chicago global ethic declaration / Christel Hasselmann -- From Chicago to the 1999 Cape Town call / Gu'nther Gebhardt -- Compassion as a global programme for Christianity / Hille Haker -- The challenge of pluralism and globalization to ethical reflection / Francis Schu'ssler Fiorenza -- Global business and the global ethic / Hans Ku'ng -- 'Globalization' from the perspective of business ethics / Friedhlem Hengsbach -- The Global Ethic Project: a challenge for education / Johannes Lahnemann -- The autonomy of the patient and the Muslim patient in a society with pluralist values / Ilhan Ilkilic -- Universal balues or a special ethic?: whither moral theology? / Dietmar Mieth.

This volume is designed to revolutionize the field of communication by identifying a broad ethical theory which transcends the world of mass media practice to reveal a more humane and responsible code of values. The contributors defend the possibility of universal moral imperatives such as justice, reciprocity and human dignity.