Franklin I. Gamwell (1937-2023) was a scholar of the philosophy of religion, Christian theology, and philosophical

ethics Ethics is the philosophy, philosophical study of Morality, moral phenomena. Also called moral philosophy, it investigates Normativity, normative questions about what people ought to do or which behavior is morally right. Its main branches inclu ...

. He was the Shailer Mathews Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of

Religious Ethics Ethics involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior.''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy''"Ethics" A central aspect of ethics is "the good life", the life worth living or life that is simply satisfyin ...

, the Philosophy of Religions, and

Theology Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...

at the

Divinity School A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy ...

of the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, or UChi) is a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Chic ...

, where he also had served as dean. He was a

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...

minister (B.D., Union Theological Seminary) with a strong interest in democracy and justice. Gamwell also served on the board of directors of Protestants for the Common Good, a nonprofit education and advocacy organization based in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

Selected works

* ''Democracy on Purpose: Justice and the Reality of God'' * ''The Divine Good: Modern Moral Theory and the Necessity of God'' * ''The Meaning of Religious Freedom: Modern Politics and the Democratic Resolution'' * ''Politics as a Christian Vocation: Faith and Democracy Today''

References

American Presbyterians Philosophers of religion Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Union Theological Seminary alumni University of Chicago faculty Fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences {{reli-philo-bio-stub