Tag Archives: oliver o’donovan

O’Donovan on City of God, Book 19

Posted on August 1, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

Augustine’s City of God Book 19 is the most challenging piece of ethics ever written.  O’Donovan’s interpretation of Book 19 is the most challenging piece of ethics I’ve ever read. And while O’Donovan will suggest an insolvable tension between the two loves/cities, … Continue reading →

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O’Donovan on the Human Embryo

Posted on July 29, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

I’ve browsed Oliver O’Donovan’s Begotten not made, his book on bioethics, but I haven’t done a full study on it.  In today’s sexual confusion and in science’s rush to transhumanism, carefully studying O’Donovan’s works isn’t a bad idea.  Here is a … Continue reading →

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Bonds of Imperfection (O’Donovan and O’Donovan)

Posted on July 28, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

O’Donovans, Oliver and Joan Lockwood. Bonds of Imperfection: Christian Politics Past and Present.  Eerdmans, 2007. I’ve read this book more than any other book over the past eleven years.  Each essays is a Master’s course in social ethics.  With all the … Continue reading →

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John Wyclif: Myth and Reality

Posted on July 25, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

This biography of Wyclif had little to do with Wyclif himself.  It was mainly GR Evans’ parable about English university life and how she was shafted by her superiors  She doesn’t actually say that, but if you are aware of … Continue reading →

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O’Donovans: From Irenaeus to Grotius

Posted on July 25, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

O’Donovans, Oliver and Joan Lockwood.  From Irenaeus to Grotius. Eerdmans. This sourcebook is divided into five parts: The Patristic Age, Late Antiquity and Germanic Kingship, The Integration of Aristotle, Spiritual Polities and Dominum, and Renaissance and reformation. At the risk of … Continue reading →

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O’Donovan: Ways of Judgment

Posted on July 25, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

This is a review from a decade ago.  I was never persuaded that Oliver O’Donovan advocated Christendom.  I think that’s obvious for two reasons:  1) he specifically rejected the idea and 2) Desire of Nations was more along the lines of examining … Continue reading →

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John Wyclif and Communication

Posted on July 17, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

  Starting 9:23.  O’Donovan’s notes: Lordship/Dominion.  Does not depend on property. Absolute property is possession of something without an attendant obligation. God’s own lordship was not owned by God’s keeping himself to himself.  God “lends” himself.  He can’t “give away,” … Continue reading →

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A catalogue of justice

Posted on July 16, 2018 by J. B. Aitken

What does justice mean?  Answering this question is necessary before you start claiming you want “justice in the public sphere.”  I am looking through Oliver and Joan Lockwood O’Donovan’s From Irenaeus to Grotius on how earlier Christian thinkers reflected on justice. … Continue reading →

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Wyclif: Dominion by Grace

Posted on January 14, 2017 by J. B. Aitken

This was an old seminary paper I wrote.  I was young and idealistic.  I stand by most of what I wrote, though I wish I had spent more time with John Wyclif (and I wish RTS Jackson was an institution … Continue reading →

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Notes on Wyclif from O’Donovan.

Posted on January 11, 2017 by J. B. Aitken

A running series of notes I’ve made on John Wyclif over the past decade, with help from Oliver O’Donovan. From his talk “The Human Person, Economics, and Catholic Social Thought” On the term “communication.” His view of lordship does not … Continue reading →

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