Jesuitical

Jesuitical / Cullen Murphy captures the meaning of ‘Jesuitical‘ (not to be confused with Jesuit): Very early, owing in part to English Protestant propagandists, the word “Jesuitical” came to characterize a form of argument designed less to seek the truth than to make a case, a form of argument that was aggressive and clever but perhaps not always sincere - indeed, one that was at times cunningly equivocal or downright deceitful. Aside from pure anti-Jesuit animus, this nuance probably arose from the work of some 17th-century Jesuit theologians who imperfectly employed a method known as “casuistry” in resolving questions of moral theology - an approach that gave the broadest possible leeway to individual behavior. This form of justification, which became known as “laxism,” may explain why Jesuit priests were the confessors of choice among Europe’s Catholic aristocracy. An example from Robert Hare’s ‘Without conscience’: When asked if he had ever committed a violent offence, a man serving time for theft answered, “No, but I once had to kill someone.” Theme song: Parsing is such sweet bullcrap. —————— Cullen Murphy (1996) Jesuitical vs. Talmudic: Making arguments, splitting hairs. Slate June 25. Robert Hare (1993). Without conscience: The disturbing world of the psychopaths among us. New York and London: The Guilford Press, p.125. Photo: Side Altar at the Jesuit Church in Vienna, originally uploaded by jrodenbiker