Religion, Reality, and a Good Life
A Philosophical Approach to Religion
by Eberhard Herrmann
In this book, Eberhard Herrmann deals with the problem of realism, which is one of the central issues in the philosophy of religion. Do we as human beings have access to a reality in itself, assuming that such an idea makes sense, or only to reality as it is conceptualized by us? The author rejects the approaches of metaphysical realism and of postmodern relativism. In their place, he develops and presents an alternative approach called pragmatic realism, which embodies two main lines of thought, the first being that reality is always reality as we conceptualize it, the second being that this does not rule out objectivity. In the case of a good life, that is to say a fulfilling life, a notion of objectivity is presented on the basis of certain reflections about how conceptualized reality can be said to offer us resistance in certain respects.
I. The aim of the book and the nature of the problem The nature of the enquiry - The philosophical problem formulated - Religion and philosophy - Philosophy II. The problem of realism in general Reasons for and against metaphysical realism - Critique of semantic realism - Pragmatic realism: realism from an internal perspective III. The problem of religious realism Religious metaphysical realism - Religious metaphysical anti-realism - Religious statements as purported assertions IV. Pragmatic realism with respect to religion Christian theism - The character of religious utterances - Pragmatic realism - The function of religion - Two material definitions of truth V. Views of life and a fulfilling life Perspectives on views of life - The role of the emotions in our conception of reality - Emotions and the conceptualization of values
Eberhard Herrmann, Born 1946; studies of theology and philosophy at Uppsala University; 1977 Dr. theol.; since 1988 Professor of philosophy of religion at Uppsala University.
- By (author) Eberhard Herrmann
Other Titles in this Series
Gott und Mensch
Differenziologische Analysen zur Grammatik des Systems christlicher Existenz
Volume 115
Being in Religion
A Journey in Ontology from Pragmatics through Hermeneutics to Metaphysics
Volume 67
Verletzt fühlen
Systematisch-theologische Perspektiven auf den Zusammenhang von Verletzung und Emotion
Volume 119
Self or No-Self?
The Debate about Selflessness and the Sense of Self. Claremont Studies in the Philosophy of Religion, Conference 2015
Volume 94
Hermeneutics and the Philosophy of Religion
The Legacy of Paul Ricoeur. Claremont Studies in the Philosophy of Religion, Conference 2013
Volume 78
D. Z. Phillips on Religious Language, Religious Truth, and God
Beyond Misunderstandings and Criticisms
Volume 116
Gott denken – ohne Metaphysik?
Zu einer aktuellen Kontroverse in Theologie und Philosophie
Volume 75
The Unique, the Singular, and the Individual
The Debate about the Non-Comparable. Claremont Studies in the Philosophy of Religion, Conference 2018
Volume 122
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