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Searching for the Divine in Contemporary Philosophy. Tensions Between the Immanent and the Transcendent
| Author: | Valeska, Jan Poláková, Jolana | |
| Year: | 1999 | |
| Pages: | 132 | |
| ISBN: | 0-7734-7925-2 978-0-7734-7925-8 | |
| Price: | $139.95 | |
This is a comparative analysis of the basic types of postmodern search for transcendence, taking a philosophical, generally contextual viewpoint. It covers, in a panoramic sweep, the complete spectrum of modes of postmodern spirituality and, proceeding from their mutual comparison without setting any preconceived totalizing or reducing criteria, it first seeks to design their typology: according to the modes of penetration toward transcendence, transpersonality, transculturality, transuniversality, transalterity, etc, and according to the scope of the penetration, reaching out at relative or absolute transcendence. The requisite criteria are found within the framework of the process of postmodern search itself. Thus, the questions after relative transcendence as well as those concerning an absolutely transcendent God are philosophically justified within the postmodern context.
Reviews
“This analysis informs Poláková’s portrait of the four most important thinkers of the search for transcendence in European philosophy until now, which simultaneously indicates the development of the self-conception of philosophy vis-à-vis transcendence: Plato and Kant, Jaspers and Levinas. . . . In her demanding yet understandably written book, the Czech philosopher succeeds admirably with the tools of philosophical reflexion to bring order to the apparently heterogeneous field of postmodern searches for transcendence.” – Prof. Dr. Bernhard Casper
Table of Contents
Table of Contents:
Preface by Nicholas Lobkowicz
I. Two Constitutive Movements of the Postmodern Era: Release from the System Societal Links; The Breaking of Horizons of Modern Reason
Transcendence in European Philosophy: Plato, Kant, Jaspers, Levinas
The Dominating Feature of Postmodern Spirituality: Search
II. Relative Transcendence:
Transpersonality – Secularization of Religious Experience, a Topography of Transpersonal Experiences; The Highlighting of Spiritual Meaning of Spontaneous Crises of Identity
Transculturality – Esoteric Assimilation, Interreligious Dialogue
Absolute Transcendence: Transuniversality – Divine Freedom, Dark Night; Transalterality – Human Freedom, Dialogue; Proexistence
III. The Main Crossroads of Postmodern Spirituality:
Two Modes of Self-formation of Postmodern immanentism – Totalization, Negation
The Specific Features of Postmodern Search for Transcendence – Openness to Experiences, Need of Participation
The Philosophy of Transcendence and Postmodern Spirituality
Bibliography, Index of Names, Index of Subjects
Preface by Nicholas Lobkowicz
I. Two Constitutive Movements of the Postmodern Era: Release from the System Societal Links; The Breaking of Horizons of Modern Reason
Transcendence in European Philosophy: Plato, Kant, Jaspers, Levinas
The Dominating Feature of Postmodern Spirituality: Search
II. Relative Transcendence:
Transpersonality – Secularization of Religious Experience, a Topography of Transpersonal Experiences; The Highlighting of Spiritual Meaning of Spontaneous Crises of Identity
Transculturality – Esoteric Assimilation, Interreligious Dialogue
Absolute Transcendence: Transuniversality – Divine Freedom, Dark Night; Transalterality – Human Freedom, Dialogue; Proexistence
III. The Main Crossroads of Postmodern Spirituality:
Two Modes of Self-formation of Postmodern immanentism – Totalization, Negation
The Specific Features of Postmodern Search for Transcendence – Openness to Experiences, Need of Participation
The Philosophy of Transcendence and Postmodern Spirituality
Bibliography, Index of Names, Index of Subjects