Contexts of Conscience in Early Modern Europe, 1500-1700

Download or read book Contexts of Conscience in Early Modern Europe, 1500-1700 written by H. Braun and published by Palgrave Macmillan. This book was released on 2003-12-16 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the early modern period, the conscience stood as a powerful mediator between God and man, directing and judging moral actions. This collection conveys the breadth of the conscience's jurisdiction, analyzing its impact on politics, religion, science, and the understanding of gender and sexuality. It demonstrates how individuals resolved ethical problems in these areas through applying the methods of casuistry, the branch of theology devoted to resolving difficult moral cases. However, casuistry itself was challenged by newer sources of moral guidance.