The Ethics of Discernment: Lonergan's Foundations for Ethics

"Byrne is a clear and engaging writer and a lifelong teacher who respects the needs of the reader for illustrative examples that bring to life the theoretical ideas explored in his book. Especially compelling are the illustrations of moral decisions drawn from his own life and the extended examples drawn from the work of novelists. The book as a whole seems aimed at scholars and graduate students, but because of its wide range of concerns and topics and its inclusion of extended examples much of it is accessible and should prove of great value to the educated public and the advanced undergraduates."

Paulette W. Kidder, Seattle University, Horizons: The Journal of the College Theology Society, December 2018

"This is a remarkable book. Patrick Byrne’s goal is modest: to answer some difficult questions about ethics left unanswered in the writings of Canadian Jesuit philosopher, Bernard Lonergan. But, as the chapters unfold, the attentive reader finds striking analyses that address major challenges arising in ethics today: subjectivity and objectivity, reason and religion, rationality and affectivity."

Kenneth R. Melchin, Saint Paul University, University of Toronto Quarterly, vol 87 3, Summer 2018

“Patrick Byrne’s elaborate and complex book is the fruit of a lifetime of reflection and teaching, and a significant and singular contribution to the field of Lonergan studies.” Ivo Coelho, Divyadaan: Journal of Philosophy and Education

“The Ethics of Discernment makes a compelling case for why the foundations of ethics should be based on a philosophy of self-appropriation.”

John J. Liptay, Department of Philosophy, St Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan

“Written in a very clear, conversational style, The Ethics of Discernment will be the definitive text on Lonergan’s ethics. Byrne not only summarizes Lonergan’s work in this area but builds on it masterfully.”

Mark T. Miller, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of San Francisco