Year: 2012
Type: editorial
Abstract: Roger Trigg's obituary of Basil Mitchell, which opens this issue, reminds us of the challenge facing philosophers of religion in the s and s.The legacy of verificationism was an intellectual culture that was not sympathetic to religious discourse, though that culture was perhaps more prominent in some institutions than in others.The vigorous development of philosophy of religion during that time, and in the following decades, is testament to the success of philosophers such as Mitchell in meeting that challenge.These days, philosophers of religion face another challenge to their discipline.It is, however, a rather more insidious one, and harder to meet on its own terms.Verificationism was, at least, a philosophical objection.In wielding the principle of verifiability against religious language, A. J. Ayer and others were, in effect, engaging in philosophy of religion.It was possible to meet this objection directly, by criticizing the principle of verifiability, or by showing that religious discourse is actually compatible with the principle, or by interpreting that discourse in such a way that the principle simply does not apply to it.But the contemporary challenge I have in mind is not, or not purely, philosophical.It can best be described as a feeling of indifference: a sense by some of those outside the philosophy of religion (what I can refer to, since I am addressing readers of this journal, as 'our discipline') that it has run out of steam, or that the key arguments have long ago been shown to be unsound, or that its object centres on ideas that have been conclusively discredited, both intellectually and morally.This attitude is in stark contrast to the unflagging commitment of contemporary philosophers of religion to keeping alive the philosophical defence, criticism, or analysis of religious thought, to the extent that our discipline has been a growth area in the last few decades.It is also in stark contrast to the continuing and enthusiastic demand for philosophy of religion among students in higher and secondary education.Just how widespread this indifference is, and whether it has become more so, are moot points.Should we take it seriously?If it is based on anti-religious prejudice, or a failure even to look at the work now being done in our discipline, then perhaps the best response would be simply to ignore it, and carry on.But where such a feeling exists, there is a loss on both sides.Important lessons for, say,
Source: Religious Studies
Author: ROBIN LE POIDEVIN
Language: English
Subfield: Philosophy
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4249900133