Ist Nächstenliebe möglich? Versuch einer philosophisch-theologischen Positionsbestimmung

Abstract

The attempt of a modern interpretation of the concept of charity which is pivotal to Jewish-Christian ethics as well as the occidental culture can hardly succeed without a dialogue with those disciplines studying the secular version of it, namely altruism. The different approaches all converge in the question: Why do humans act altruistically? The present article tries to gather the most important answers and to portray the controversial debate on the explanation and evaluation of altruistic behavior in a way that underlines the interdisciplinary connectivity of an essential concept in theology.