A work of theology and American church history, this volume examines the life and theology of the New England pastor-theologian Jonathan Edwards. Focusing on the glory of God as the dominant theme of Edwards' thought, the author examines Edward's use of Neoplatonist terminology and the language of the senses, and documents the Calvinistic and covenantal underpinnings of Edwards' theology. In the process, critical issues such as the relationship between ethics and aesthetics, disinterested benevolence and self-love, are brought to light. Students will find here an overview of Puritan New...

Matthew Foster develops a hermeneutical philosophy of practice, based on a critical reading of Hans-Georg Gadamer's works on ethics, his debates with Leo Strauss, and his commentaries on contemporary moral issues. Foster argues that Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics can help clarify the nature of moral reason and support the establishment of specific moral norms. He demonstrates how Gadamer's hermeneutical principles can be extended to address the problems of moral relativism and ideology indigenous to the modern era.