ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides an exposition of Aristotle's and Aquinas's views on virtue ethics. It develops a historical sketch to trace the shift away from metaphysical and epistemological realism up to and including the 'linguistic turn' in philosophy. The book then develops Stanley Hauerwas's own Wittgensteinian understanding and how he applies it to his particular Christian convictions. It also examines the two sets of metaphysical issues. Having performed the crucial epistemological and metaphysical labor, the book examines related, specific issues in light of those findings. It then surveys several considerations of their linguistic method that threaten orthodox Christian philosophical theology and Christian moral knowledge. The book also tackles the charge most often levelled against Alasdair MacIntyre and Stanley Hauerwas, that their views are utterly relativistic.
