Wittgenstein, Religion and Ethics - by Mikel Burley (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Ludwig Wittgenstein was an outstanding 20th-century philosopher whose influence has reverberated throughout not only philosophy but also numerous other areas of inquiry, including theology and the study of religions. Exemplifying how Wittgenstein's thought can be engaged with both sympathetically and critically, Wittgenstein, Religion and Ethics pushes forward our thinking about religion and ethics and their place in the modern world.

Bringing Wittgenstein's ideas into productive dialogue with several other important thinkers, including Elizabeth Anscombe, St Thomas Aquinas, Georg Cantor, Søren Kierkegaard and George Orwell, this collection fosters a highly informative picture of how different strands of contemporary and historical thought intersect and bear upon one another. Chapters are written by leading scholars in the field and tackle current debates concerning religious and ethical matters, with particular attention to the nature of religious language. This is a substantial contribution to religion and ethics, demonstrating the significance of Wittgenstein's ideas for these and related subjects.

Review Quotes

"[The] essays in this collection admirably demonstrate the range and depth of Wittgenstein's ideas and the enduring significance of his thought for inspiring work in the study of religion and ethics." --Modern Theology

"Brings together eleven, very engaging authors who discuss a variety of topics in these areas with considerable depth and expertise." --International Journal for Philosophy of Religion

"While this volume is especially relevant for those involved in Wittgenstein studies and the appropriation of his work, anyone interested in the relevant questions in philosophy, theology, and ethics will find these essays to be insightful and fruitful contributions to these fields. The dialogue produced throughout the volume is collegial, constructive, and collaborative." --Reading Religion

"Each chapter invites and deserves discussion. The collection as a whole documents how wide Wittgenstein's legacy is and how deep its religious implications and ethical demands often are." --Philosophical Investigations

"This book will be of use to anybody interested in Wittgenstein and religion. It ought to be read by anyone interested in the philosophy of religion, providing as it does a window into a way of philosophizing about religion which is so often left off the undergraduate syllabuses and conference programmes of the English-speaking world ... Too often philosophy of religion has concerned itself with systems of belief fit only for angels. A good dose of Wittgenstein is just what we need to bring us back down to earth." --Religious Studies

"The variety of ways, both constructive and critical, in which one might explore and utilise the resources available in Wittgenstein's work, are presented in an excellent way in the different contributions to this volume." --Ethical Perspectives

"[T]he various papers do an admirable job of clarifying and advancing various debates in Wittgenstein, the philosophy of religion and, to a lesser extent, ethics." --The Heythrop Journal

"The essays gathered in this book address in fresh and exciting ways topics central to philosophy of religion, religious ethics, and theology. Anyone interested in those fields will want to read it, as will anyone interested in Wittgenstein. Not only does the collection show the continuing importance and interest of Wittgenstein as a philosopher in his own right, it offers fascinating dialogues between Wittgenstein and major contemporary philosophers and theologians, and it convincingly demonstrates the value to contemporary philosophy and theology of Wittgenstein's approach. Mikel Burley is to be congratulated on gathering together such a stellar list of contributors. This book will be an invaluable reference point for future discussions." --Andrew Moore, Research Fellow, University of Oxford, UK

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