Publications

The latest publication

Cover of the book

Sex Purchase. A legal and ethical examination of the laws on prostitution


By Prof Dr Elke Mack and Prof Dr Ulrich Rommelfanger with the assistance of Dr Jakob Drobnik
Baden-Baden 2023, 332 pages, paperback, € 39.00
ISBN 978-3-8487-7597-2

Available at: https: //www.nomos-shop.de/nomos/titel/sexkauf-id-112933/

In this work, the current German prostitution legislation (ProstG in conjunction with ProstSchG) is subjected to a legal, ethical and constitutional examination by relevant experts. In this respect, the legislative assumption that the purchase of sex is voluntary is questioned, as is the right to sexual self-determination and the right to physical integrity with regard to the preservation of the dignity of the person.

In a first step, the legalisation of prostitution is placed in the context of international and European law and the factual and personal consequences for those affected are examined. Finally, compliance with human dignity in prostitution is examined from a legal-ethical perspective.

In a second step, the constitutionality of the existing legislation is examined on the basis of fundamental rights, in particular the human dignity norm of Article 1 of the German Basic Law and the general right of personality, and the question of a fundamental reorganisation is discussed. 

With contributions from
Dr. Jakob Drobnik | Prof. Dr. Elke Mack | Prof. Dr. Ulrich Rommelfanger.

 

Structure

Foreword

Conclusion + Closing words

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A Christian Theory of Justice

Picture cover

A Christian Theory of Justice
By Prof. Dr Elke Mack
2017, 236 p., paperback, €39,
ISBN 978-3-8487-3583-9

A look inside the book: Table of contents

Available at: Nomos Verlag

The work is a systematic design for an ethics of postmodern societies out of a Christian perspective. This ethics approach is capable of pluralism and compatible with the results of political philosophy, political science, sociology and economics. Empirical justice is shown to be indispensable at the beginning of any ethical argumentation, as well as the insights of discourse ethics and theories of justice. In addition, the author addresses fundamental questions of contemporary ethics: ‘Do people have a natural sense of justice and which one? Is justice universal or arbitrary? Is equality a part of justice?’

The core of such Christian ethics is its consensus-orientation combined with a global reach. Christian ethics thus undergoes a paradigm shift towards the consensus paradigm of modern ethics based on democratic theory. It is clearly worked out that general norms are no longer primarily based on metaphysical reflections on the nature of nature of things or the normality of an action. Instead, all potentially a ected parties must be asked equally for their consent to norms in a neutral situation. Their agreement process represents the reconstruction of normative ethics without leaving it to the arbitrariness of individuals or a majority. In Christian ethics, this quest for normativity does no longer fall behind the current philosophical level of research, but meets it out of a Christian perspective.

Further publications

Monographs

  1. Mack, Elke / Rommelfanger, Ulrich: Sex purchase. A legal and legal-ethical examination of prostitution. Baden-Baden 2023.
  2. Mack, Elke: A Christian Theory of Justice. Baden-Baden 2017
  3. Mack, Elke: A Christian Theory of Justice. The turn towards a pluralistic ethics with global reach. Baden-Baden 2015 Table of contents
  4. Mack, Elke, Pogge, Thomas: Absolute Poverty and Global Justice. Empirical Data, Moral Theories, Initiatives. Ashgate: London 2008.
  5. Mack, Elke: Families in Crisis. Proposed solutions in Christian Social Ethics (ta ethika 1). Munich 2005.
  6. Mack, Elke: Justice and The Good Life. Christian ethics in political discourse. Paderborn / Munich 2002.
  7. Mack, Elke: Economic rationality. Basis of an interdisciplinary business ethics? Berlin 1994.

Articles and essays

  1. Mack, Elke: Wie können Menschenrechte (Heute Neu) Begründet werden?, in: Feix, Marc, Trautmann, Frederic (eds.): Die Universalität der Menschenrechte. Berlin/Basel 2023, pp. 87-100.
  2. Comment les droits de l'Homme peuvent-ils être (re)fondés aujourd'hui?, in: Revue d'éthique et de théologie morale 2022/HS, Cairn Paris. 2022, 101-117.
  3. A Christian Theory of Global Justice, in: Conference Proceedings - Philosophy in Tanzania Today: Reaching to the core of political and socio-economic concerns. 2021, 7-12.
  4. Christian Image of Man as a Standard for Politics - What sense does it still make?, in: Die Politische Meinung, Themenheft zu Anthropos. New images of man?, No. 571, Nov./Dec. 2021, 66th year, 34-40.
  5. Mack, Elke/ Rauhut, Andreas: Christian Ethics and Poverty, in: Gottfried Schweiger; Clemens Sedmak (eds.): Handbuch Philosophie und Armut. Stuttgart: Metzler. 2020, 197-206.
  6. Sexual abuse of women. Prostitution from an ethical perspective, in: Stimmen der Zeit 11 (2020), 811-824.
  7. "New responsibility for the weak" - Elke Mack on the corona crisis as an ethical challenge: theologie-aktuell.uni-erfurt.de/verantwortung-fur-die-schwachen-mack/
  8. Global violence against women. Sexual abuse, prostitution and human trafficking, in: Theologie der Gegenwart 62 (3/2019), pp. 199-213.
  9. Die Notwendigkeit eines globalen Gesellschaftsvertrags: Ein wirtschafts- und sozialethischer Beitrag, in: Staatswissenschaftliches Forum e.V. Tagungsberichte, 4/2018.
  10. Justice is not needed? Justice interreligiously from the perspective of Catholicism, in: Anders Handeln, 1/2018.
  11. Global inequality from the perspective of a Christian theory of justicein: Vogt, Markus; Schallenberg, Peter (eds.), Social Inequalities. Von der empirischen Analyse zur gerechtigkeitsethischen Reflexion, Paderborn, 2017, 25-40.
  12. What holds Europe and the West together, in: Katholische Sozialwissenschaftliche Zentralstelle, Kirche und Gesellschaft (No. 441, 2017), Mönchen-Gladbach, 3-16.
  13. Does Europe have a moral identity that integrates it? A political essay, in: Theology of the Present 60 (3/2017), 217-236.
  14. Must mercy be boundless? Humanity towards migrants as an ethical dilemma, in: Theologie der Gegenwart 59 (3/2016), pp.173-188.
  15. The secular acceptance of prostitution - an aberration, in: Salzkörner 21 (3/2015), published by the Central Committee of German Catholics, 10-11.
  16. Ethical legitimacy of circumcision?, in: Journal of Medical Ethics 61 (2/2015), 99-108.
  17. Is prostitution ever free?, in: Ost-West 16 (2/2015), 94-101.
  18. Prostitution as a human rights problem, in: Theologie der Gegenwart 57 (1/2014), 2-15.
  19. Does the economy really kill? Catholic business ethics between Vatican II and Laudato si, in: Theologie der Gegenwart 58 (4/ 2015), pp.303-316.
  20. What does the future of the welfare state look like? A socio-ethical discussion paper, in: JCSW 54 (2013), 275-296. together with Martin Lampert.
  21. Poverty in the light of the encyclical 'Caritas in Veritate', in: Caritas in Veritate. Catholic Social Teaching in the Age of Globalisation, ed. by Jörg Althammer. Berlin 2013, 159-172.
  22. Natural law change to the ethics of justice. Ansatz einer pluralismusfähigen Christlichen Ethik, in: Theologische Ethik im Pluralismus (Studien zur theologischen Ethik), ed. by Konrad Hilpert. Freiburg/ Basel/ Vienna 2012, 209-228.
  23. Vatican II - The door to a modern Christian ethics is opened, in: Den österlichen Mehrwehrt im Blick. Theological Contributions to a Church in Transition (EThSchr 42), ed. by Benedikt Kranemann/ Maria Widl. Würzburg 2012, 127-141.
  24. Pluralism and Christian ethics? Opposites or Compatibilities, in: Theology of the Present 54 (4/2011), 308-311.
  25. Performance and limits of economic morality. Expansion through a Contractualist Institutional and Legal Ethics, in: Jahrbuch für Recht und Ethik 18, ed. by B. Sharon Byrd/ Joachim Hruschka, Jan C. Joerden. Berlin 2010, 105-118.
  26. Social Security. KAS online portal on political culture in Germany and Italy. Rome 2010. together with Martin Lampert
  27. Financial crisis - an end to responsibility for the poor?, in: Salzburger Theologische Zeitschrift 13 (2/2009), 134-155. together with Michael Hartlieb
  28. Social security, in: Foreign friends? Political culture in Germany and Italy in dialogue, ed. by Wilhelm Staudacher/ Eva Pföstl/ Karoline Rörig. Soveria Mannelli 2009, 152-161. together with Martin Lampert.
  29. Ethische Leitideen moderner Gerechtigkeit aus sozialethischer Sicht, in: What is justice - and how can it be realised? Answers from an interdisciplinary discourse, published by the Roman Herzog Institut e.V. Munich 2009, 9-11.
  30. Can a value-conservative political ethic be justified?, in: Zukunft braucht Konservative, ed. by Hans Zehetmair. Freiburg / Basel / Vienna 2009, 109-125.
  31. Erfurt Manifesto, Erfurt 2008, 1-6. together with Michael Schramm and Stephan Klasen et al.
  32. Subsidiary and activating basic income. An alternative to the existing system in Germany, in: Unconditional basic income. A perspective for the social market economy? Controversial questions about a controversial (social) concept of tomorrow, published by the Roman Herzog Institut e.V. Munich 2008, 17-24.
  33. German Christian Social Ethics and the Theory of Karl Homann, in: Freiheit durch Demokratie. Festschrift für Karl Homann, edited by Ingo Pies/ Tatjana Schönwälder-Kuntze/ Christoph Lütge et al. Berlin 2008, 143-155.
  34. Zur Ethik wirtschaftspolitischen und unternehmerischen Handelns, in: Ethik-Technik-Management: Verantwortung in einer europäischen Unternehmenskultur, ed. by Dieter Althaus. Erfurt 2008, 127-129.
  35. Global Solidarity with the Poor, in: Solidarity (Jahrbuch für Christliche Sozialwissenschaft 48), ed. by Karl Gabriel. Münster 2007, 297-336.
  36. Labour as a scarce commodity in the social market economy, in: Politik - Kommunikation - Kultur. Festschrift for Wolfgang Bergsdorf, ed. by Bernhard Vogel/ Dietmar Herz/ Marianne Kneuer. Paderborn et al. 2007, 59-75.
  37. Parental attachment and external care. How can the welfare of children and the interests of young mothers and women be brought into balance? Gesellschaft gerecht gestalten 1 (2/2007), 3-9. together with Marion Bayerl.
  38. Labour as a right to participation, in: Amos. Gesellschaft gerecht gestalten 1 (1/2007), 11-17.
  39. A Theory of Global Justice Focussing on Absolute Poverty, in: Globalisation and Business Ethics, ed. by Karl Homann/ Peter Koslowski/ Christoph Lütge. Aldershot/ London 2007, 145-158.
  40. Who is Responsible for Global Justice (in Chinese), in: Politics and Ethics, ed. by Shan Jigang/ Sun Jing/ Winfried Jung. Beijing 2007, 349-362.
  41. The Search for Universal Criteria of Justice (in Chinese), in: Politics and Ethics, ed. by Shan Jigang/ Sun Jing/ Winfried Jung. Beijing 2007, 247-258.
  42. In the centre: Human dignity. Political action out of Christian responsibility. Christian ethics as a guide, in: That, ed. by Bernhard Vogel. Sankt Augustin 2006, 9-34. together with Alois Baumgartner, Heinrich Bedford-Strohm et al:
  43. Christian and universal at the same time? Challenges for Christian ethics in pluralism, in: In Zeiten des Umbruchs den Spuren Christi folgend. Festschrift for Bishop Wanke, edited by Claus-Peter März/ Josef Freitag. Leipzig 2006, 77-89.
  44. Christian family ethics in a time of social change, in: Theologie der Gegenwart 48 (1/2005), 13-27.
  45. Global justice criteria for assessing the developmental relevance of globalisation processes, in: Wirtschaftsethik der Globalisierung, ed. by Karl Homann/ Peter Koslowski/ Christoph Lütge. Tübingen 2005, 305-318.
  46. Körper und Sport in Katholizismus und Protestantismus, in: Ethik der Weltreligionen. A Handbook, edited by Michael Klöckner/ Udo Tworuschka. Darmstadt 2005, 166-176.
  47. "Ethischer Egoismus": Lebensphilosophie oder Ethik?, in: Erwägen, Wissen, Ethik 15 (4/2004), 547-550.
  48. Global ethics, in: Ethics in the crisis, ethics for the crisis, ed. by Wolfgang Bergsdorf/ Hans Hoffmeister/ Benedikt Kranemann et al. Weimar 2004, 33-48.
  49. Theologische Wirtschaftsethik, in: Integritäts- und Umweltmanagement in der Beratungspraxis, ed. by Thomas Beschorner/ Matthias Schmidt. Munich 2004, 139-149.
  50. Family a key to sustainable development. Business ethics considerations in dialogue with Amartya Sen, in: Ethik in den Wissenschaften, ed. by Herbert Haf. Kassel 2003, 84-97.
  51. Connecting market and morality, in: Rheinischer Merkur No. 34 (2003).
  52. Christian family ethics - family economic and/or socio-political methods of family support?, in: "Die Zukunft der Familie" - Zukunftswerkstatt, ed. by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung. Wesseling 2003, 60-69.
  53. Notes on the method of Christian economic and social ethics, in: Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Unternehmensethik 3 (2/2002), 174-200.
  54. Pros and cons of "Christian social ethics", in: Jahrbuch für Christliche Sozialwissenschaften 43, ed. by Marianne Heimbach-Steins. Münster 2002, 166-176.
  55. Review: Otfried Höffe, Demokratie im Zeitalter der Globalisierung, in: Zeitschrift für katholische Theologie 124 (2002), 227-229.
  56. Is Man Always a Person at the Same Time? On anthropological premises of Christian social ethics, in: Die Neue Ordnung 55 (4/2001), 268-281.
  57. Rationing in health care - a problem of economic ethics, in: Ethics in Medicine 13 (1/2001), 45-60.
  58. Business and ethics - like fire and water?, in: Engagement, Zeitschrift für Erziehung und Schule 17 (3/2000), 181-190.
  59. Medical guidelines. An ethical analysis, in: Jahrbuch für Wissenschaft und Ethik 5, ed. by Ludger Honnefelder/ Christian Streffer. Berlin/ New York 2000, 227-241. together with Ulrike Kostka.
  60. Democracy in the Age of Globalisation - Otfried Höffe's Design for a Federal World Republic, in: Die politische Meinung No. 365 (2000), 87-89.
  61. The human right to health, in: Menschenwürde und medizinethische Konfliktfälle, ed. by Nikolaus Knoepffler/ Anja Haniel. Stuttgart / Leipzig 2000, 183-202.
  62. The ethical challenge at the end of life. Hilfen einer sterbebegleitenden Medizin, in: Salzkörner 5 (5/1999), 5-7. together with Franz-Josef Tentrup.
  63. Health as an ethical problem, in: Kirche und Wirtschaft 13 (3/1998), 3-4.
  64. Ethik des Gesundheitswesens, in: Jahrbuch für Wissenschaft und Ethik 3, ed. by Ludger Honnefelder/ Christian Streffer. Berlin / New York 1998, 173-189.
  65. Benefit, in: Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche 7 (1998), 952.
  66. Mobbing, in: Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche 7 (1998), 354.
  67. Are women's rights human rights? Their significance in an intercultural dialogue, in: Menschenrechte und Gemeinsinn - Westlicher und östlicher Weg? Philosophical-political border explorations between Western and East Asian cultures, ed. by Walter Schweidler. St. Augustin 1998, 47-64.
  68. Solidarity and individuality as conditions of freedom. A description of the current situation, in: Solidarity is indivisible, ed. by the Central Committee of German Catholics. Kevelaer 1997, 73-82.
  69. From 1994 - 1997 (centre) no publications under his own name permitted, as in the service of the Federal Minister of Transport and the Federal President. Numerous publications under other names.
  70. Business ethics, in: Stimmen der Zeit (10/1993), 712-715
  71. Golden Nets of Transnational Enterprises, in: The Centre on Transnational Corporations Reporter of the United Nations 24, No. 8, New York 1987.

Editorships

1st series Ethics in the Social Sciences, Nomosverlag, Baden-Baden (selection):

  • Karger-Kroll, Anna, Life Reality and Pension (2021).
  • Philip, Jiji, The Human Rights Discourse between Liberty and Welfare (2017).
  • Preusche, Bernhard, The Welfare State in the Equilibrium of Consideration (2017).

2nd Erfurt Theological Studies (selection):

  • Bayerl, Marion: Family as a social Mission Statement, Würzburg 2006.

3rd co-editor of the series "ta ethika", Herbert Utz Verlag (selection):

  • Bayerl, Marion: The return of the religious? Contemporary religious phenomena and their impact on society. (ta ethika 13) Munich 2017.
  • Lampert, Martin: Old-age security in the field of tension between demographic development and intergenerational justice (ta ethika 10). Munich 2009.
  • and many more.

4th Erfurt Discussion Papers

A Christian Theory of Global Social Justice

United Nations World Philosophy Day 2021

A Christian Theory of Global Justice
By Prof. Dr Elke Mack
United Nations World Philosophy Day 2021
Philosophy in Tanzania Today: Reaching to the core of political and socio-economic concerns

The article as PDF (p. 7-12).

To solve worldwide problems like absolute poverty, climate change, inequality, and political suppression of humans, a just international framework is overdue. Therefore, Christian Social Ethics takes a stance for a new global order in favour of all peoples, especially the poor, because they are all considered to be members of the one human family. On a cosmopolitan level the justification of such a global order is a theoretical as well as practical challenge because it equally must take into account the ethical demands of all possible traditions, religions, cultures, and peoples. For instance, Christian Social Ethics would uphold principles like solidarity, subsidiarity and human dignity of every human being - regardless of his or her cultural and ethnic background. African authors, like Odera Oruka (Parental Earth Ethics), would emphasise an absolute right to a human minimum and reject conditions of excessive inequality. So, both would easily agree on global sustainable institutions. But it is still open whether other responsible players would join such an agreement. Thus, it will be discussed how a consensual justification of a new social contract can be reached that could be the foundation to a just global order.

Erfurt Discussion Papers

1. Ecology, Economy and Technology (EDP No.6)(Download)

2. Liberal Prostitution Legislation in Germany (EDP No.5) ( Download)

3. Reformland Germany (EDP No.4) (Download)

4. An ethical Perspective on social Human Rights (EDP No.3) ( Download)

5. Absolute Poverty and global Justice (EDP No.2) ( Download)

6. Erfurt Manifest (EDP No.1) ( Download)

(According to topicality. The texts are subject to copyright and are published online by the Text ArchiveGotha/Erfurt (TARGET).

Publications by research associates
Click here for the publications.