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The ethics of homicide : a contextual critique of the sanctity-of-life principle with particular reference to abortion and revolutionary violence
Bibliography: pages 299-306.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Department of Religious Studies
2015
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| _version_ | 1867613253819957248 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Shapiro, Ivor |
| author2 | Villa-Vicencio, Charles |
| author_browse | Shapiro, Ivor Villa-Vicencio, Charles |
| author_facet | Villa-Vicencio, Charles Shapiro, Ivor |
| author_sort | Shapiro, Ivor |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Bibliography: pages 299-306. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/15879 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:33:12.104Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publishDateRange | 2015 |
| publishDateSort | 2015 |
| publisher | Department of Religious Studies |
| publisherStr | Department of Religious Studies |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/15879 The ethics of homicide : a contextual critique of the sanctity-of-life principle with particular reference to abortion and revolutionary violence Shapiro, Ivor Villa-Vicencio, Charles Religious Studies Homicide - Moral and ethical aspects Christian ethics Bibliography: pages 299-306. Society never absolutely prohibits homicide: there are "grey areas" in which it is sometimes tolerated or even encouraged. Moral discussion of each area is usually carried on in isolation from the others, and perhaps for this reason, frequently ignores or underestimates the complexities of the morality of killing. This thesis attempts to identify a general method for analysing such issues, so that they can enrich one another. A contemporary theological survey indicates that there should be a balance in Christian ethical method between the polar values of obedience in respect of general standards, and freedom to exercise individual responsibility. This implies recognising a place for intuitions, and specifying a way in which these can be subjected to criticism. In contrast, the Sanctity-of-Life Principle seeks to impose a universal prohibition on the killing of "innocent" human beings. While the Principle provides a useful general guideline, it is deficient as a moral norm - partly because of fatal difficulties associated with the concept of innocence. The method adopted in this thesis is that suggested by Philip Wagaman: methodological presumptions are identified and then tested in a utilitarian way. For the ethics of homicide, I propose a primary presumption favouring the preservation of life, and various secondary and linguistic presumptions. The contextual framework of the thesis is limited to two specific issues - abortion and revolutionary violence. 2015-12-20T15:40:28Z 2015-12-20T15:40:28Z 1987 Master Thesis Masters MA http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15879 eng application/pdf Department of Religious Studies Faculty of Humanities University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Religious Studies Homicide - Moral and ethical aspects Christian ethics Shapiro, Ivor The ethics of homicide : a contextual critique of the sanctity-of-life principle with particular reference to abortion and revolutionary violence |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | The ethics of homicide : a contextual critique of the sanctity-of-life principle with particular reference to abortion and revolutionary violence |
| title_full | The ethics of homicide : a contextual critique of the sanctity-of-life principle with particular reference to abortion and revolutionary violence |
| title_fullStr | The ethics of homicide : a contextual critique of the sanctity-of-life principle with particular reference to abortion and revolutionary violence |
| title_full_unstemmed | The ethics of homicide : a contextual critique of the sanctity-of-life principle with particular reference to abortion and revolutionary violence |
| title_short | The ethics of homicide : a contextual critique of the sanctity-of-life principle with particular reference to abortion and revolutionary violence |
| title_sort | ethics of homicide a contextual critique of the sanctity of life principle with particular reference to abortion and revolutionary violence |
| topic | Religious Studies Homicide - Moral and ethical aspects Christian ethics |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15879 |
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