Abstract:
A Christian Education in the Virtues examines the connection between human nature
and human flourishing. It draws on ancient and medieval sources to explore the
formation of the person based on a Christian anthropology, emphasising the communal nature of the virtuous life, and provides a richer approach to the question of
contemporary character education.
The book argues that the only way to understand and construct our character
virtues is to have a clear picture of what is the purpose and meaning of human life. It
highlights the importance of engaging with moral issues and makes the case that, for
Christian educators, human flourishing is inseparable from God’s active relationship
to human beings. The book also explores a teleological approach to character education goals. To educate the whole person in the light of an all-embracing Christian
worldview is challenged by secular and liberal ideology and is often seen as irrational
to the modern mind. Overall, the text seeks to demonstrate that many aspects of a
Neo-Aristotelian-Thomist theoretical underpinning for Christian character education holds out a viable option for Christians. It therefore argues the case for the
educational potential of Christian character education.
This important book will be essential reading for academics, researchers and
students in the fields of character and virtue education, religious education and
the philosophy of education.
