Professor, Department of Systematic Theology, Faculty of Theology, University of Aarhus.

Project: "Lutheran Christianity and political liberalism."

This is Part 3 of a project with the joint title "Reconstruction of Lutheran political ethics" (Part I: Luther’s political ethics. Part II: Lutheran theology and political modernity in Denmark and Germany: Martensen, Grundtvig, Kierkegaard, Troeltsch).

Based on a presentation of John Rawl’s political philosophy and Ronald Dworking’s philosophy of law, it is investigated whether these theories can constitute a basis for a contemporary formulation of the natural law congenial with a Christian political ethics of neighbour love. Rawl’s position will be viewed in relation to that of Habermas. The two related theories will further be thrown into relief by a comparison with Luhmann, Ricoeur and Derrida. A presentation of K.E. Løgstrup’s political ethics, read as a reconstruction of a Lutheran position, may also be included.