This course takes up themes arising within fundamental moral theology. In what sense is moral theology really a theology? What constitutes morality? What role do desire, fulfillment, love, truth, beauty, and the invitation to communion (cf. Veritatis splendor, ch. 1) play in our grounding of moral theology? The course takes up the question of freedom, the foundation and meaning of natural law, and the structure and character of moral action. Readings include Veritatis splendor and texts drawn from J. Ratzinger, St. Thomas Aquinas, Kant, H. U. von Balthasar, S. Pinckaers, M. Rhonheimer, and L. Melina.