At a time when principles animate so much moral talk in professional life, Virtues for Ordinary Christians offers virtue as the starting point for doing moral reflection and for giving moral advice. When most ethicists are suggesting that the primary ethical question for today is "What should I do?,"
Keenan asks, "Who should I be?" Taking familiar patterns from ordinary life - family, schools, parishes, business Keenan weaves one virtue after another through the fabric of human existence. Along the way he offers not only the traditional virtues charity, justice, temperance, courage, fortitude - but also some new ones: fidelity, self-esteem, hospitality, gratitude and truthfulness.
JAMES F. KEENAN, S.J. received his Doctorate of Sacred Theology at the Gregorian University in Rome. He is Associate Professor of Moral Theology at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology and is the author of a number of books and articles on moral theology and ethics.