Jonathan Edwards, Samuel Hopkins, and the Theological Ethics of Social Concern

Uncover the profound ethical connections between Jonathan Edwards and Samuel Hopkins in this groundbreaking study of virtue theory and theological legacy. This book challenges the prevailing view that Hopkins diverged from Edwards by demonstrating how Hopkins consistently applied Edwards's doctrine of benevolence, particularly in advocating for the abolition of institutionalized slavery and the slave trade. The author begins by addressing scholarly debates that have often portrayed Edwards's ethics as purely philosophical or theocentric and Hopkins's as primarily pragmatic, arguing instead for a more holistic understanding of both figures. Through a carefully developed scholarly context, the book situates Edwards's and Hopkins's virtue theories within their historical and intellectual milieu, exploring the philosophical, God-centered, and activist dimensions of their ethics.

Providing essential background, the study examines Edwards's proslavery stance and Hopkins's abolitionism against the backdrop of prerevolutionary America, where slavery was largely unquestioned and antislavery sentiment was just beginning to emerge. The core chapters delve into Edwards's virtue theory and the rationale behind his ethical positions, before moving to a comparative analysis that reveals the social and activist impulses present in both Edwards's doctrine of benevolence and Hopkins's doctrine of disinterested benevolence. Ultimately, the book demonstrates that Hopkins's abolitionism was not a departure but a faithful extension of Edwards's ethical theology. Concluding with a synopsis and suggestions for further research, this work offers valuable insights for scholars, students, and anyone interested in theology, ethics, and the historical roots of social justice.