Beyond Sentimentality: A Theological-Ethical Contribution to the Debate on Public and Political Emotions

The project aims to offer an original and interdisciplinary contribution to the discussion on the increasing scientific and societal attention to the role and meaning of emotions in the public and political spheres. In dialogue with moral philosophy (though not exclusively), it seeks to develop a systematic theological-ethical contribution. This research’s underlying hypotheses are, firstly, that theological ethics and especially Catholic social thought insufficiently consider emotions such as anger and indignation such that, intra-theologically, a profound critical analysis is needed. However, secondly, the core Christian concept of love has a potentially constructive critical perspective to offer to the debate, especially regarding emotions in the public sphere. This also relates to whether and/or how theology, and by extension of the church community (including so-called Christian civil society) has a public role to play, if one wants to do justice to its message rather than simply accept certain secular trends limiting religions to the private sphere.

Keywords:Theologische ethiek, Politieke emoties

Disciplines:Religious ethics