Homo ethicus – Eine theologisch-ethische Grundsatzbestimmung aus christlicher Perspektive im interreligiösen Kontext

Abstract

Benedikt Schmidt examines the notion of homo ethicus from a Christian theological perspective. If one starts from the definition of ethics as a methodical reflection of reason on human action, then insofar as this is affected by the distinction between good and evil, it should be regarded as a general human phenomenon – independent of religion. Accordingly, theology sees itself faced with the task of dealing with ethical questions from the perspective of its own religion. Using the »Euthyphron dilemma« the author argues that this is a fundamental challenge for both Christian and Islamic theologians, because the answer to this fundamental question depends on which conception of ethics a religion has developed and what understanding of humans as ethical beings informs this. Based on four theses, the author tries to clarify homo ethicus from a Christian-ethical point of view. The »Christian ethos« is thereby to be understood as referring to the values, convictions and basic moral patterns that characterize Christian teachings, and for him Christian ethics is the reflection of this ethos by various actors who feel themselves to be Christians. Because the reflections have an effect on practice, there is a kind of interaction here. According to Schmidt, from a Christian point of view homo ethicus is to be located on the border between anthropology and theology. As the »Euthyphron dilemma« has already shown, he must maintain a difficult balance here. At the same time, for the author, homo ethicus is the figure that can function as an important and easily accessible bridge both to the secular pluralistic society and to other religions. Accordingly, it can also play an important role in the Christian-Islamic dialogue. However, there must be a certain basic consensus as to what is to be understood under homo ethicus.