Nigel Biggar is a prominent British theologian and ethicist, known for his work in Christian ethics, just war theory, and political theology. He served as the Regius Professor of Moral and Pastoral Theology at the University of Oxford and was the Director of the McDonald Centre for Theology, Ethics, and Public Life at Christ Church, Oxford, until his retirement.
Biography and Academic Career Born in 1959, Biggar pursued his education at the University of Oxford, where he also completed his doctorate. He held academic positions at the University of Cambridge and the University of Leeds before returning to Oxford. His academic career has been characterized by a focus on applied ethics, particularly in areas of public policy, international relations, and historical interpretation from a theological perspective.
Key Themes and Contributions Biggar's work spans several significant areas:
- Christian Ethics: He explores the application of Christian moral principles to contemporary issues, emphasizing natural law and the importance of virtue.
- Just War Theory: A significant portion of his research examines the ethical dimensions of warfare, analyzing the criteria for justifiable conflict and the moral conduct within war. His book Aiming to Kill: The Ethics of War is a notable contribution to this field.
- Political Theology: Biggar engages with the relationship between religious faith and political life, including themes of national identity, sovereignty, and the role of the state.
- Colonialism and Empire: He has become widely known for his controversial work on the ethics of empire, particularly his book Ethics and Empire: Colonialism and the Justification of an Empire. In this work, he advocates for a nuanced historical understanding of the British Empire, arguing that while it involved injustices, it also had positive aspects and motivations that deserve consideration, challenging purely condemnatory narratives.
Controversies and Debates Biggar's views on empire and colonialism have generated considerable debate and criticism, particularly for what some perceive as an apologia for imperial history. He has been criticized by historians and ethicists who argue that his work downplays the harms of colonialism and misrepresents historical realities. Conversely, his supporters commend his efforts to foster open debate and encourage a more balanced, less anachronistic assessment of historical periods.
Selected Works
- Aiming to Kill: The Ethics of War (2004)
- Global Justice, Global Democracy (2011)
- Behaving Well: Christian Ethics in a Modern World (2011)
- In Defence of War (2013)
- Ethics and Empire: Colonialism and the Justification of an Empire (2019)
- What's Wrong with Incivility? Christian Reflections on the Politics of Rudeness (2020)