An Ethic of Trust: Mutual Autonomy and the Common Will to Live

In the ancient world, different religions coexisted without much conflict, and many merged with governments to shape laws. Theocracies can only exist where there is no plurality of religions or where the minor religions do not mind the dominant one dictating policy. W. Royce Clark's book "An Ethic of Trust: Mutual Autonomy and the Common Will-to-Live" argues that due to religious pluralism, a nation's ethic must be grounded on "freestanding" principles that are universally obvious and agreeable to all citizens. This requires mutual trust and autonomy to maximize unity while allowing individual liberties. Clark blends scholars from different perspectives to forge a new path for an inclusive ethic that ensures equal freedom and stability for both the religious and non-religious.

Format: Hardback
Length: 432 pages
Publication date: 02 September 2021
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

The ancient world was a melting pot of diverse religions, each with its own unique metaphysics and ethics, which often coexisted without much contention or integration into government policies. However, the emergence of theocracies in certain regions was influenced by the dominance of one religion over others, with the dominant religion often dictating policy for all citizens. In the United States and India, for example, despite the diversity that a democratic society presupposes, a majoritarian religion continues to assert an advantage over others in shaping the social contract.

In his book "An Ethic of Trust: Mutual Autonomy and the Common Will-to-Live," W. Royce Clark addresses this problem by advocating for a nation's ethic to be grounded on "freestanding" principles that are universally obvious and agreeable to all citizens. These principles are based on instinctual "will-to-live" that exists in all living creatures, and the recognition of this can influence people to agree to voluntary unity and a set of basic principles that embrace differences within relationships, whether in a marriage or a constitutional republic.

To arrive at this point, Clark blends scholars who are often seen as opposites, such as Albert Schweitzer, Friedrich Nietzsche, and John Rawls, to forge a new path for an inclusive ethic that provides equal freedom and stability for both the religious and non-religious. Clark argues that religious pluralism requires a genuine mutual trust and autonomy that can maximize unity while allowing individual liberties.

In conclusion, the proximity of many different religions in the ancient world did not lead to the development of theocracies, as these were often influenced by the dominance of one religion over others. However, in contemporary societies, religious pluralism presents challenges to developing an inclusive ethic that provides equal freedom and stability for all citizens. By blending scholars from different perspectives and advocating for freestanding principles that are universally agreeable, we can strive towards a more inclusive and harmonious society.

Weight: 448g
Dimension: 228 x 163 x 38 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781978708709