Religion, Reality, and a Good Life

A Philosophical Approach to Religion

by Eberhard Herrmann

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Extent: 230 pages

Publisher: Mohr Siebeck

Subjects: Philosophy, Religious Studies

Series: Religion in Philosophy and Theology

Series volume number: 11

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(April 2004)

ISBN: 9783161483752

Price: $62.00

In stock

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

  • By (author) Eberhard Herrmann