The Realist Hope: A Critique of Anti-realist Approaches in Contemporary Philosophical TheologyTaking into consideration analytical, continental, historical, post-modern and contemporary thinkers, Insole provides a powerful defence of a realist construal of religious discourse. Insole argues that anti-realism tends towards absolutism and hubris. Where truth is exhausted by our beliefs about truth, there is no conceptual space for doubting those beliefs; only a conception of truth as absolute, given and accessible can guarantee the very humility, sense of fallibility and sensitivity to difference that the anti-realist rightly values. Cutting through some of the tired and well-rehearsed debates in this area, Insole provides a fresh perspective on approaches influenced by Wittgenstein, Kant, and apophatic theology. The defence of realism offered is unusual in being both analytically precise, and theologically sensitive, with a view to some of the wider and less well-explored cultural, ethical and political implications of the debate. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
The Scope and Meaning of Religious Language | 11 |
The Relativity of Truth to Language Games | 29 |
Truth in Italics | 42 |
Worldmaking | 68 |
Rumours of Kant | 95 |
Hick and the Noumenal JamPot | 115 |
Kaufman and the Kantian Mystery | 133 |
The New Apophaticism and the Return of the Anthropomorphic | 146 |
Violence Breaking and Gift Realism and Postmodern Philosophy of Religion | 158 |
The Brokenness of Divine Language | 170 |
Why Antirealism Breaks up Relationships | 185 |
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Alvin Plantinga anthropomorphic anti-realism anti-realist apophatic apply argument assert assertoric bent-rule follower Cambridge Chapter Christian claim conception of truth conceptual relativity concerning consider construal construct Constructive Theology constructivism constructivist context criteria critique D.Z. Phillips denial distinction divine epistemic conception epistemic conditions epistemic practices ethical existence expressive expressivist false formal properties God's Hick's human cognition Ibid ideal epistemic ideal justification independent of human indeterminacy Janz judgement Kant Kant's Kantian Kaufman knowledge language games meaning metaphysical mind nature non-epistemic conception notion noumenal Real objects ontological Oxford P.F. Strawson phenomenal Phillips's philosophical Philosophy of Religion plausible position possible predicate schemas problem proposition Putnam rational reality realm reason relativism relativist Religion London religious beliefs religious experience religious utterances Richard Swinburne scepticism sense sort statements substantial talk theology theory things thought transcendent transcendental idealism true beliefs two-realm Wittgenstein and Religion Wittgensteinian Wittgensteinian approach words