Wittgenstein and the Epistemology of Religion

Exploring the Epistemic Foundations of Religious Belief Through Wittgenstein’s Philosophy Wittgenstein and the Epistemology of Religion offers the first in-depth examination of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s later philosophy as a resource for understanding the nature of religious belief from an epistemological perspective. Bringing together fourteen newly commissioned essays by leading scholars, this landmark volume investigates how Wittgenstein’s grammatical method and contextualist approach can illuminate religious practice, the logic of faith and the challenges posed by religious diversity. Organized around five key themes—ranging from debates over cognitivism and fideism to anthropological and evidentialist critiques—the collection reveals Wittgenstein’s distinctive contributions to religious epistemology. Contributors explore his engagements with thinkers such as Locke, Kierkegaard and James, while considering how religious belief functions not simply as a set of propositions but as a deeply embedded form of life. The essays challenge scientistic interpretations of religion and situate Wittgenstein’s work within current debates in philosophy, theology and the human sciences. Wittgenstein and the Epistemology of Religion is essential reading for advanced undergraduate and graduate students in philosophy of religion, epistemology and Wittgenstein studies. It is also a valuable resource for scholars and researchers in religious studies, anthropology and sociology who seek to understand the epistemic structures underlying religious commitment, belief, reasoning and ritual. Illuminates Wittgenstein’s religious epistemology—bridging faith, reason, and cultural understanding across disciplines Wittgenstein and the Epistemology of Religion offers the first comprehensive exploration of Ludwig Wittgenstein’s philosophy of religion through an explicitly epistemological lens. Fourteen newly commissioned essays from leading and emerging scholars examine how Wittgenstein’s later thought, especially his descriptive and grammatical methods, provides tools for understanding religious belief, practice, and diversity. This singular volume situates Wittgenstein within debates over cognitivism, non-cognitivism, and fideism, while also considering his subtle anthropological and ethnological insights into religion as a form of life. Structured in five parts, Wittgenstein and the Epistemology of Religion traces key themes that range from the tension between faith and reason to the role of evidence in religious life. Contributors engage with seminal figures such as Locke, Kierkegaard, James, and Malinowski to illuminate how Wittgenstein challenges scientific reductionism and opens new ways of understanding the lived experience of belief. The essays reveal how questions of meaning, context, and practice underpin the epistemic evaluation of religious commitments, as well as how Wittgenstein’s approach helps clarify conflicts that lack a shared evidential framework. Combining historical sensitivity, conceptual rigor, and contemporary application, this landmark collection: Systematically explores Wittgenstein’s religious epistemology across multiple thematic dimensions Challenges scientistic frameworks by emphasizing context and meaning in religious discourse Highlights the relevance of Wittgenstein’s thought for contemporary debates on faith, reason, and evidence Introduces the concept of quasi-fideism as a nuanced position between full rationalism and fideism Expands Wittgenstein’s philosophical reach by applying anthropological and ethnological perspectives to religious belief Addresses current teaching and research needs in epistemology and the philosophy of religion Encouraging cross-disciplinary dialogue between disciplines, Wittgenstein and the Epistemology of Religion is essential reading for scholars, researchers, and advanced students in philosophy, religious studies, anthropology, and sociology. It serves as a core or supplemental text in upper-level undergraduate or graduate courses such as Philosophy of Religion, Religious Epistemology, Wittgenstein Studies, as well as courses examining belief formation, ritual, and the social dynamics of religion.

Pagina's: 368, Editie: Eerste editie, Hardcover, Wiley