Lyotard and the Political – James Williams
1
248 / Religious Studies Review Volume 32 Number 4 / October 2006 Philosophy of Religion GOD AND THE ETHICS OF BELIEF: NEW ESSAYS IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF RELIGION. Edited by Andrew Dole and Andrew Chignell. New York: Cambridge Uni- versity Press, 2005. Pp. xii + 282. $60.00, ISBN 0-521-85093-2. Dole and Chignell’s fine collection contains eleven new essays in the philosophy of religion, all written by major figures in the field. There are essays addressing metaphysical, epistemo- logical, semantic, ethical, and political issues in the philosophy of religion. Nearly all of them are of high quality and advance the state of discussion in their chosen topics. A. Plantinga expertly critiques several reasons for thinking that God does not act in the world. Theologians would do well to read the first section of his essay, in which Plantinga criticizes the argu- ments of several theologians. D. Pereboom constructs a theodicy for hard determinists. Although his arguments are impressive, his rejection of free will theodicy makes it much more difficult to explain why God would allow the evil that exists. It seems that God could have gotten most of the purported good conse- quences without allowing nearly so much evil. As a result, Pereboom must put more weight on the skeptical theism response to the problem of evil. P. Quinn’s valuable essay critiques and extends N. Wolterstorff’s argument that Chris- tians ought to support liberal democracies. All Christians (not just philosophers) would benefit from digesting this essay. Although the book is too eclectic to be useful as a textbook, it is essential reading for researchers. Many of the essays would also be profitably studied by undergraduates, theologians, and those in reli- gious studies. Joshua C. Thurow University of Wisconsin–Madison AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSO- PHY OF RELIGION. By Brian Davies. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004. Pp. ix + 333. $29.95, ISBN 978-0-19-926347-9. The third edition of this book is almost wholly new compared with its predecessors. The topics of the chapters have been com- pletely rearranged and each of the chapters is followed by a fairly extensive “Further Read- ing” list and a set of “Questions for Discussion” designed to help students continue to think through the issues raised (only on a few cases does the author come down on one or the other side of a philosophical divide). Most impor- tantly is that one of the chapters from the second edition, on “Eternity,” has now been expanded into three chapters—on “Concepts of God,” “Divine Simplicity,” and “Omnipotence and Omniscience”—to take into account the development in the 1990s of a philosophical position Davies calls “theistic personalism” (which also goes by other names such as free will theism, relational or open theism, or, pre- viously, process theism). This text now can be used with Davies’ edited Philosophy of Reli- gion: A Guide and Anthology , and will continue to be a standard introduction to the topic from within the tradition of analytical philosophy. The fourth edition, if any, should take into account the growing number of philosophers doing work in the area of phenomenology of religion. Amos Yong Regent University School of Divinity LYOTARD AND THE POLITICAL. By James Williams. Thinking the Political. New York: Routledge, 2000. Cloth, $104.95, ISBN 0-415-18348-0; paper, $35.95, ISBN 0-415- 18349-9. While Lyotard gave up hopes for a Marxist revolution after what he considered the failure of the Algerian revolution, William’s detailed, theoretical study finds continuing political sig- nificance in Lyotard’s thought in the hope for a (nondirected and non-controlled) resistance from within capitalism. Williams stresses Lyo- tard’s rejection of institutional politics and anti- politics in favor of the “political,” the artistic sensibility and drive to act that makes it possi- ble for one to live with institutions. Lyotard’s political arises from his understanding of life as an unstable relation of feelings, desires (inten- sities), and structures. Others have found polit- ical significance in Lyotard’s invocation of the (feeling of the) sublime to resist dominant ideas and metanarratives, a feeling that evokes the differend, that is, that which admits of no just resolution. There, the political is the call to testify to the differend, rather than to seek to bridge (falsely) conflicts. For Williams, this tra- jectory in Lyotard leads only to political nega- tion or to nihilism. Williams finds more positive possibilities in Lyotard’s Libidinal Economy , which calls for an attempt to intensify desires, so that they will not be stabilized in capitalism’s structure of equivalences. As no escape from capitalism exists and as capitalism effectively incorporates opposition, one best exploits desire through an active passivity that seeks powerlessness, multiplies principles, and invites failure. Richard Walsh Methodist College Theology MODERN CHRISTIAN THOUGHT. By James C. Livingston, Francis Schüssler Fiorenza with Sarah Coakley and James H. Evans, Jr. 2nd ed. Volume 1: The Enlighten- ment and the Nineteenth Century; volume 2: The Twentieth Century. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2006. Pp. xv + 430 (volume 1); Pp. xvi + 544 (volume 2). $56.00, ISBN 0-8006-3805-0. This significantly expanded edition of a classroom standard offers careful interpreta- tions of the seminal movements and thinkers that define modern theology. Focusing on Europe and America, Livingston begins his dis- cussion of modern thought with the Enlighten- ment and ends with various figures often described as postmodern, thus leaving open the question of whether postmodernity marks a watershed in Christian thought or a deepening of modernity’s questions. Individual chapters follow a similar format: broad descriptions of intellectual movements that have influenced Christian theology followed by more detailed explorations of these movements as epitomized in a few representative thinkers. Because the text includes extensive excerpts from these theologians, readers do not merely absorb Livingston’s interpretive skill but hear many authors in their own voices. Both Protestant and Catholic traditions are amply represented; new chapters written by Fiorenza, Coakley, and Evans adopt the format of earlier chapters and offer astute readings of Vatican II, transcenden- tal Thomism, political and liberation theolo- gies, feminist theology, and Black theology in America. The result is a text that exceeds the original published in 1970, arguably the best survey of modern Christian thought currently available. Ideal for college and seminary class- room use, the volumes are also essential for scholars of the modern period. David H. Jensen Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary REDEMPTION. By Alister McGrath. Minne- apolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2006. Pp. viii + 87. Cloth, $15.00, ISBN 0-8006-3702-X. It has become increasingly rare for aca- demic theologians to write substantive texts for nonspecialized audiences. McGrath’s recent series, Truth and the Christian Imagination, of which Redemption is the third volume, is a wel- come contrast to this trend. The book’s clear prose and careful theological judgment is matched by its stunning visual imagery and includes paintings by Dalí, Caravaggio, and El Greco. McGrath begins his consideration of redemption by claiming that we can “deepen our grasp of who Christ is by reflecting on what he has achieved.” He explores these themes of Christ’s benefits not by summarizing atonement theories, but by allowing the reader to recon- sider human alienation and bondage in light of Jesus’ ministry and last days. The strategy, in other words, is to invite the reader into the story of redemption, a story so complex that it defies tidy theological answers. Redemption is “com- posed of many elements, each of which needs to be identified and respected in its own right.” Among these elements, adoption, homecoming, bondage, judgment, and transformation leap to the fore. Each of these themes is paired with a
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Transcript of Lyotard and the Political – James Williams
248 / Religious Studies Review Volume 32 Number 4 / October 2006
Philosophy of
Religion
GOD AND THE ETHICS OF BELIEF:NEW ESSAYS IN THE PHILOSOPHY OFRELIGION.
Edited by Andrew Dole andAndrew Chignell. New York: Cambridge Uni-versity Press, 2005. Pp. xii
+
282. $60.00, ISBN0-521-85093-2.
Dole and Chignell’s fine collection containseleven new essays in the philosophy of religion,all written by major figures in the field. Thereare essays addressing metaphysical, epistemo-logical, semantic, ethical, and political issues inthe philosophy of religion. Nearly all of themare of high quality and advance the state ofdiscussion in their chosen topics. A. Plantingaexpertly critiques several reasons for thinkingthat God does not act in the world. Theologianswould do well to read the first section of hisessay, in which Plantinga criticizes the argu-ments of several theologians. D. Pereboomconstructs a theodicy for hard determinists.Although his arguments are impressive, hisrejection of free will theodicy makes it muchmore difficult to explain why God would allowthe evil that exists. It seems that God could havegotten most of the purported good conse-quences without allowing nearly so much evil.As a result, Pereboom must put more weight onthe skeptical theism response to the problem ofevil. P. Quinn’s valuable essay critiques andextends N. Wolterstorff’s argument that Chris-tians ought to support liberal democracies. AllChristians (not just philosophers) would benefitfrom digesting this essay. Although the book istoo eclectic to be useful as a textbook, it isessential reading for researchers. Many of theessays would also be profitably studied byundergraduates, theologians, and those in reli-gious studies.
Joshua C.
ThurowUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PHILOSO-PHY OF RELIGION.
By Brian Davies. 3rded. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004.Pp. ix
+
333. $29.95, ISBN 978-0-19-926347-9.The third edition of this book is almost
wholly new compared with its predecessors.The topics of the chapters have been com-pletely rearranged and each of the chapters isfollowed by a fairly extensive “Further Read-ing” list and a set of “Questions for Discussion”designed to help students continue to thinkthrough the issues raised (only on a few casesdoes the author come down on one or the otherside of a philosophical divide). Most impor-tantly is that one of the chapters from thesecond edition, on “Eternity,” has now beenexpanded into three chapters—on “Concepts ofGod,” “Divine Simplicity,” and “Omnipotenceand Omniscience”—to take into account the
development in the 1990s of a philosophicalposition Davies calls “theistic personalism”(which also goes by other names such as freewill theism, relational or open theism, or, pre-viously, process theism). This text now can beused with Davies’ edited
Philosophy of Reli-gion: A Guide and Anthology
, and will continueto be a standard introduction to the topic fromwithin the tradition of analytical philosophy.The fourth edition, if any, should take intoaccount the growing number of philosophersdoing work in the area of phenomenology ofreligion.
Amos
YongRegent University School of Divinity
LYOTARD AND THE POLITICAL.
ByJames Williams. Thinking the Political. NewYork: Routledge, 2000. Cloth, $104.95, ISBN0-415-18348-0; paper, $35.95, ISBN 0-415-18349-9.
While Lyotard gave up hopes for a Marxistrevolution after what he considered the failureof the Algerian revolution, William’s detailed,theoretical study finds continuing political sig-nificance in Lyotard’s thought in the hope fora (nondirected and non-controlled) resistancefrom within capitalism. Williams stresses Lyo-tard’s rejection of institutional politics and anti-politics in favor of the “political,” the artisticsensibility and drive to act that makes it possi-ble for one to live with institutions. Lyotard’spolitical arises from his understanding of life asan unstable relation of feelings, desires (inten-sities), and structures. Others have found polit-ical significance in Lyotard’s invocation of the(feeling of the) sublime to resist dominant ideasand metanarratives, a feeling that evokes thedifferend, that is, that which admits of no justresolution. There, the political is the call totestify to the differend, rather than to seek tobridge (falsely) conflicts. For Williams, this tra-jectory in Lyotard leads only to political nega-tion or to nihilism. Williams finds more positivepossibilities in Lyotard’s
Libidinal Economy
,which calls for an attempt to intensify desires,so that they will not be stabilized in capitalism’sstructure of equivalences. As no escape fromcapitalism exists and as capitalism effectivelyincorporates opposition, one best exploitsdesire through an active passivity that seekspowerlessness, multiplies principles, andinvites failure.
Richard
WalshMethodist College
Theology
MODERN CHRISTIAN THOUGHT.
ByJames C. Livingston, Francis SchüsslerFiorenza with Sarah Coakley and James H.Evans, Jr. 2nd ed. Volume 1: The Enlighten-ment and the Nineteenth Century; volume 2:The Twentieth Century. Minneapolis, MN:
Fortress Press, 2006. Pp. xv
+
430 (volume 1);Pp. xvi
+
544 (volume 2). $56.00, ISBN0-8006-3805-0.
This significantly expanded edition of aclassroom standard offers careful interpreta-tions of the seminal movements and thinkersthat define modern theology. Focusing onEurope and America, Livingston begins his dis-cussion of modern thought with the Enlighten-ment and ends with various figures oftendescribed as postmodern, thus leaving open thequestion of whether postmodernity marks awatershed in Christian thought or a deepeningof modernity’s questions. Individual chaptersfollow a similar format: broad descriptions ofintellectual movements that have influencedChristian theology followed by more detailedexplorations of these movements as epitomizedin a few representative thinkers. Because thetext includes extensive excerpts from thesetheologians, readers do not merely absorbLivingston’s interpretive skill but hear manyauthors in their own voices. Both Protestant andCatholic traditions are amply represented; newchapters written by Fiorenza, Coakley, andEvans adopt the format of earlier chapters andoffer astute readings of Vatican II, transcenden-tal Thomism, political and liberation theolo-gies, feminist theology, and Black theology inAmerica. The result is a text that exceeds theoriginal published in 1970, arguably the bestsurvey of modern Christian thought currentlyavailable. Ideal for college and seminary class-room use, the volumes are also essential forscholars of the modern period.
David H.
JensenAustin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
REDEMPTION. By Alister McGrath. Minne-apolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2006. Pp. viii + 87.Cloth, $15.00, ISBN 0-8006-3702-X.
It has become increasingly rare for aca-demic theologians to write substantive texts fornonspecialized audiences. McGrath’s recentseries, Truth and the Christian Imagination, ofwhich Redemption is the third volume, is a wel-come contrast to this trend. The book’s clearprose and careful theological judgment ismatched by its stunning visual imagery andincludes paintings by Dalí, Caravaggio, and ElGreco. McGrath begins his consideration ofredemption by claiming that we can “deepenour grasp of who Christ is by reflecting on whathe has achieved.” He explores these themes ofChrist’s benefits not by summarizing atonementtheories, but by allowing the reader to recon-sider human alienation and bondage in light ofJesus’ ministry and last days. The strategy, inother words, is to invite the reader into the storyof redemption, a story so complex that it defiestidy theological answers. Redemption is “com-posed of many elements, each of which needsto be identified and respected in its own right.”Among these elements, adoption, homecoming,bondage, judgment, and transformation leap tothe fore. Each of these themes is paired with a
