In Praise of Heteronomy: Making Room for Revelation (Philosophy of Religion)

Recognizing the essential heteronomy of postmodern philosophy of religion, Merold Westphal argues against the assumption that human reason is universal, neutral, and devoid of presupposition. Instead, Westphal contends that any philosophy is a matter of faith and the philosophical encounter with theology arises from the very act of thinking. Relying on the work of Spinoza, Kant, and Hegel, Westphal discovers that their theologies render them mutually incompatible and their claims to be the voice of autonomous and universal reason look dubious. Westphal grapples with this plural nature of human thought in the philosophy of religion and he forwards the idea that any appeal to the divine must rest on a historical and phenomenological analysis.

Politics & Social Sciences

WESTPHAL, Merold

Philosophy

Indiana University Press

Recognizing the essential heteronomy of postmodern philosophy of religion, Merold Westphal argues against the assumption that human reason is universal, neutral, and devoid of presupposition. Instead, Westphal contends that any philosophy is a matter of faith and the philosophical encounter with theology arises from the very act of thinking. Relying on the work of Spinoza, Kant, and Hegel, Westphal discovers that their theologies render them mutually incompatible and their claims to be the voice of autonomous and universal reason look dubious. Westphal grapples with this plural nature of human thought in the philosophy of religion and he forwards the idea that any appeal to the divine must rest on a historical and phenomenological analysis.

"... a profoundly stimulating and satisfying piece of philosophy.... It is a book from which one really can learn something worthwhile." ―Idealistic Studies
"... exceptionally well-written philosophy of religion... " ―Mentalities
"... a most impressive phenomenology of religion... a splendid achievement... " ―The Reformed Theological Review
"... challenging to scholars... interesting to general audiences." ―International Journal for Philosophy of Religion
"... equal in clarity of thought and comprehensiveness of scope.... profoundly original." ―The Reformed Journal
"Challenging and thought-provoking, this makes a fine... textbook in the philosophy of religion." ―Religious Studies Review
"... its virtues as a textbook in phenomenology or philosophy of religion are extraordinary." ―Faith and Philosophy
Examples from the writings of Kierkegaard, Freud, Heidegger, Dostoyevsky, Nietzsche, and Tolstoi illuminate Westphal’s thesis that guilt and death are the central problems of human existence.

God, Guilt, and Death: An Existential Phenomenology of Religion (Studies in Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy)

"This fairly small book must take its place as the best introductory study of Hegel's Phenomenology available." ―Philosophy and Phenomenological Research
"Westphal's book is a comprehensive guide to the argument of the entire phenomenology.... will repay close study by serious undergraduate and graduate students of philosophy." ―Choice
This detailed interpretation of Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit seeks to show that the unity of this classic work may be found in the integration of its transcendental and sociological-historical themes.

History and Truth in Hegel's Phenomenology, Third Edition

Literature & Fiction

Literary

The question of the transcendence of God has traditionally been thought in terms of the difference between pantheism, which affirms that God is wholly "within" the world, and theism, which affirms that God is both "within" and "outside" the world, both immanent and transcendent. Against Heidegger’s critique of onto-theology and the general postmodern concern for respecting and preserving the difference of the other, Merold Westphal seeks to rethink divine transcendence in relation to modes of human self-transcendence. Touching upon Spinoza, Hegel, Augustine, Pseudo-Dionysius, Aquinas, Barth, Kierkegaard, Levinas, Derrida, and Marion, Westphal’s work centers around a critique of onto-theology, the importance of alterity, the decentered self, and the autonomous transcendental ego. Westphal’s phenomenology of faith sets this book into the main currents of Continental philosophy of religion today.

Transcendence and Self-Transcendence: On God and the Soul (Philosophy of Religion)

Few philosophers have devoted more than passing attention to similarities between the thought of Søren Kierkegaard, a Danish Christian, and Emmanuel Levinas, a French Jew. Here, one of philosophy of religion's most distinctive voices offers a sustained comparison. Focusing on questions surrounding otherness, transcendence, postmodernity, and the nature of religious thought, Merold Westphal draws readers into a dialogue between the two thinkers. Westphal's masterful command of both philosophies shows that each can learn from the other. Levinas and Kierkegaard in Dialogue is an insightful and accessible contribution to philosophical considerations of ethics and religion.

Levinas and Kierkegaard in Dialogue (Philosophy of Religion)

... a profoundly stimulating and satisfying piece of philosophy.... It is a book from which one really can learn something worthwhile." ―Idealistic Studies... exceptionally well-written philosophy of religion... " ―Mentalities... a most impressive phenomenology of religion... a splendid achievement... " ―The Reformed Theological Review... challenging to scholars... interesting to general audiences." ―International Journal for Philosophy of Religion... equal in clarity of thought and comprehensiveness of scope.... profoundly original." ―The Reformed JournalChallenging and thought-provoking, this makes a fine... textbook in the philosophy of religion." ―Religious Studies Review... its virtues as a textbook in phenomenology or philosophy of religion are extraordinary." ―Faith and PhilosophyExamples from the writings of Kierkegaard, Freud, Heidegger, Dostoyevsky, Nietzsche, and Tolstoi illuminate Westphal’s thesis that guilt and death are the central problems of human existence.

God, Guilt, and Death: An Existential Phenomenology of Religion (Studies in Phenomenology & Existential Philosophy)

Indiana Univ. Pr

The question of the transcendence of God has traditionally been thought in terms of the difference between pantheism, which affirms that God is wholly "within" the world, and theism, which affirms that God is both "within" and "outside" the world, both immanent and transcendent. Against Heidegger’s critique of onto-theology and the general postmodern concern for respecting and preserving the difference of the other, Merold Westphal seeks to rethink divine transcendence in relation to modes of human self-transcendence. Touching upon Spinoza, Hegel, Augustine, Pseudo-Dionysius, Aquinas, Barth, Kierkegaard, Levinas, Derrida, and Marion, Westphal’s work centers around a critique of onto-theology, the importance of alterity, the decentered self, and the autonomous transcendental ego. Westphal’s phenomenology of faith sets this book into the main currents of Continental philosophy of religion today.

Few philosophers have devoted more than passing attention to similarities between the thought of Søren Kierkegaard, a Danish Christian, and Emmanuel Levinas, a French Jew. Here, one of philosophy of religion's most distinctive voices offers a sustained comparison. Focusing on questions surrounding otherness, transcendence, postmodernity, and the nature of religious thought, Merold Westphal draws readers into a dialogue between the two thinkers. Westphal's masterful command of both philosophies shows that each can learn from the other. Levinas and Kierkegaard in Dialogue is an insightful and accessible contribution to philosophical considerations of ethics and religion.

Levinas and Kierkegaard in Dialogue (Indiana Series in the Philosophy of Religion)

Title: Kierkegaard's Critique of Reason and Society Binding: Paperback Author: MeroldE.Westphal Publisher: PennStateUniversityPress

Kierkegaard's Critique of Reason and Society

History

Americas

Penn State University Press

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by WESTPHAL, Merold. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by WESTPHAL, Merold

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by WESTPHAL, Merold. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

In Praise of Heteronomy: Making Room for Revelation (Philosophy of Religion)

In Praise of Heteronomy: Making Room for Revelation (Philosophy of Religion)

God, Guilt, and Death: An Existential Phenomenology of Religion (Studies in Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy)

History and Truth in Hegel's Phenomenology, Third Edition

Transcendence and Self-Transcendence: On God and the Soul (Philosophy of Religion)

Levinas and Kierkegaard in Dialogue (Philosophy of Religion)

God, Guilt, and Death: An Existential Phenomenology of Religion (Studies in Phenomenology & Existential Philosophy)

Transcendence and Self-Transcendence: On God and the Soul (Philosophy of Religion)

Levinas and Kierkegaard in Dialogue (Indiana Series in the Philosophy of Religion)

Kierkegaard's Critique of Reason and Society