Secularization: An Essay In Normative Metaphysics
by Ulrich Steinvorth /
2017 / English / PDF
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This book answers questions about secularization: Does it
dissolve religion, or transform it into faith in a universally
valid value? Is it restricted to the west or can it occur
everywhere? Using ideas of Max Weber, the book conceives
secularization as a process comparable to the rational
development of science and production.
This book answers questions about secularization: Does it
dissolve religion, or transform it into faith in a universally
valid value? Is it restricted to the west or can it occur
everywhere? Using ideas of Max Weber, the book conceives
secularization as a process comparable to the rational
development of science and production.
What is the value secularization propagates? Sifting historical
texts, Steinvorth argues the value is authenticity, to be
understood as being true to one’s talents developed in activities
that are done for their own sake and provide life with meaning,
and as unconditionally commanded.
What is the value secularization propagates? Sifting historical
texts, Steinvorth argues the value is authenticity, to be
understood as being true to one’s talents developed in activities
that are done for their own sake and provide life with meaning,
and as unconditionally commanded.
How can a value be
How can a value beunconditionally
unconditionally demanded? This question
leads to an investigation of the self that combines Kant’s ideas
on the conditions of the possibility of experience with modern
brain science, and to the metaphysical deliberation whether to
prefer a world with creatures able to do both good and evil to
one without them.
demanded? This question
leads to an investigation of the self that combines Kant’s ideas
on the conditions of the possibility of experience with modern
brain science, and to the metaphysical deliberation whether to
prefer a world with creatures able to do both good and evil to
one without them.
It is not enough, however, to point to facts. We rather need to
understand what secularization, religion and their possible
rationality consist in. Max Weber’s sociology of religion has
provided us with the conceptual means to do so, which this book
develops.
It is not enough, however, to point to facts. We rather need to
understand what secularization, religion and their possible
rationality consist in. Max Weber’s sociology of religion has
provided us with the conceptual means to do so, which this book
develops.
Secularization is rediscovered as the same progress of
rationality in the sphere of religion that we find in the
development of the spheres of science, art, the economy and
politics or public affairs. It proves to be the perfection
rather than the dissolution of religion – a perfection that
consists in recognizing authenticity as the successor of the
absolute of religion.
Secularization is rediscovered as the same progress of
rationality in the sphere of religion that we find in the
development of the spheres of science, art, the economy and
politics or public affairs. It proves to be the perfection
rather than the dissolution of religion – a perfection that
consists in recognizing authenticity as the successor of the
absolute of religion.