Triangulating faith, virtue and reason: An Edwardsean account

Jonathan Edwards occupies a unique place in the Christian theological tradition due to his understanding of the interdependence of Christian faith, ethical virtue, and reason were interdependent. In order to develop Edwards' understanding, however, his thought needs to be critiqued and developed, and the arguments among scholars today over the strengths and implications of his thought need to be addressed. This dissertation describes and develops this interdependence under the rubric of "cognitivism," setting forth how theological doctrines influence virtue and how faith requires certain kinds of propositions, inferences, intellectual virtues, and self-reflexive ethical and religious actions. After providing a detailed account of the interdependence of the different components of faith, virtue and reason, the dissertation demonstrates how its Edwardsean account affects questions of epistemology and religious pluralism. The dissertation concludes with an argument about the proper Edwardsean account of the specific virtues of compassion and humility, and an evaluation of the way that these two virtues were exemplified (and failed to be exemplified) by Edwards and David Brainerd in the context of their missions to the Native Americans.