The Epistemology of Contemporary Moral Theology: Complex and Interdisciplinary

Abstract

This article examines the contemporary challenges of epistemology in moral theology, emphasizing the need to overcome previous hegemonic and monolithic views of knowledge. It underscores the importance of continuously interpreting divine Revelation, considering its incarnate and historical nature, fostering a dynamic hermeneutic approach that addresses contemporary challenges. The construction of the proposed epistemology of contemporary theological ethics aims to be interdisciplinary and complex, advocating for a moral theology that respects its epistemological autonomy while enriching itself with interdisciplinary contributions, thus avoiding knowledge fragmentation. Approaches such as the Wesleyan Quadrilateral, Edgar Morin’s Theory of complex thought, and Bernard Lonergan’s Method are examined to enrich this perspective. It proposes an open, relational, and permeable epistemology that allows for a broader exploration of human beings, the world, and that which transcends them.