God's Call

“John Hare uses the history of philosophy in three separate centuries to construct a compelling account of moral authority that preserves the objectivity of moral norms, clarifies the autonomy of moral agents, and places God at the center. Hare offers an original interpretation of metaethics in the twentieth century, restores Immanuel Kant as a Christian moral philosopher, and introduces us to the searching divine command ethics of John Duns Scotus. This short book brims with provocative insights for contemporary ethics.”

Robert C. Roberts

“This volume offers a wide range of important arguments. Its three chapters show striking precision and concision. John Hare first considers debates within Anglo-American philosophy over the last century between moral realists and moral expressivists. He seeks to hold together the objective and subjective sides of evaluation and to defend prescriptive realism. Next he goes back to John Duns Scotus in the later Middle Ages in order to retrieve parts of Scotus's divine command theory. Thus he resists making natural law the only theist alternative to secular ethical theories. Finally he critically examines relevant claims in Immanuel Kant, who stands influentially between the medieval and contemporary standpoints. He contends that Kant does not attack divine command theory without further ado, as most contemporary interpreters suppose. These are engaging arguments indeed. Hare displays wide reading in the primary and secondary literature. His style is lean and accessible. This book merits and rewards serious scrutiny, and I commend it with enthusiasm.”

Gene Outka

“This book is both historically well informed and full of insights. It contains a valuable presentation of Duns Scotus's divine command theory, an informative treatment of Kant's position on autonomy in relation to divine authority, and much else of major interest.”

Robert Audi