Conscience and its Problems: An Introduction to Casuistry

One of the classic texts of moral theology, setting out crucial moral problems and arguments drawn from religion and the religious community.

Casuistry is a process of reasoning that focuses upon specific cases or moral problems, as opposed to a general study of ethical theories. In this broad sense every moral philosopher may be regarded as a casuist in some sense. The term also has a narrower meaning as it refers to a group of moralists who, in the sixteenth and seventeenth century systematically adopted this method. Casuistry is now one of the options for those who, in the framework of the post-modern anti-systematic attitude, still feel the importance of serious moral debate and reject easy-minded relativism.

A benchmark in twentieth century casuistry, Conscience and its Problems anticipates this development. It recognises the legacy of casuist tradition, and faces moral issues relevant to our own time. One of the great classics of theology unavailable for twenty years, Kirk’s work is at last back in print in a handsome new edition.

Kirk examines in depth all the crucial moral problems, and offers arguments drawn from religion and from those committed to religious worship and community. The influence of this work has been very wide, making it an essential text for those in the field.

An extensive new Introduction by David H. Smith places Kirk’s approach to casuistry in the context of a general discussion of the term, its meaning and the ways in which it has been variously interpreted.

Kenneth E. Kirk was educated at the Royal Grammar School, Sheffield, and St. John's College, Oxford. After serving as a chaplain in France and Flanders during World War I, he returned to Oxford to become Tutor at Keble College, Fellow at Magdalen College, Fellow and Chaplain of Trinity, and in 1933 Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology. He was Bishop of Oxford from 1937 until his death in 1954.