Myths of Progress, Reason, and Faith - A Genealogy of Secular Modernity with Peter Harrison
Jul 10, 2024
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Peter Harrison, Professor Emeritus of History and Philosophy, discusses the evolution of religious, scientific, and philosophical concepts, challenging traditional narratives of progress. Topics include the idiosyncrasies of Western thought categories, reevaluating philosophical progress, historical shifts in faith and reason, the development of the supernatural concept, and evolving perspectives on nature.
Evolution of faith from trust to propositional belief influenced by Protestant Reformation.
Transformation of reason and dogma in Christianity leading to natural-supernatural dichotomies.
Emergence of natural-supernatural distinction in Western-centric context and potential reevaluation of teleological perspectives.
Deep dives
The Historical and Philosophical Evolution of Concepts
The historical and philosophical evolution of concepts like progress, faith, religion, and the supernatural is explored, showcasing how these ideas have transformed over time. The discussion delves into how the understanding of faith shifted from a trust-based concept to a more propositional belief system with the Protestant Reformation impacting the supernatural realm. Additionally, the notion of progress and reason evolves from a personal formation perspective to a more instrumental calculating function, highlighting the shifting landscapes of belief and reason over different historical periods.
Impact of Rationalization on Christianity and Supernatural Dichotomy
The conversation delves into how the introduction of reason and dogma into Christianity has led to its transformation and how dichotomies like natural-supernatural emerged. The Protestant Reformation's disenchantment effect and subsequent influence on disenchantment of the natural world is examined, shedding light on the complexities of faith and reason interplay in modern religious contexts.
Modern Challenges and Reflections on Secularization
The narrative reflects on modern challenges related to the concept of the supernatural, highlighting the emergence of the natural-supernatural distinction and its Western-centric development. It explores the consequences of buffered selves and the historical erosion of the natural-supernatural boundaries, leading to a normative deficit and possible reevaluation of teleological perspectives in scientific and philosophical discourses.
Future Considerations and Research Directions on Nature
The discussion transitions to future considerations, suggesting potential research directions focusing on conceptions of nature. Emphasizing the limitations of instrumental materialist approaches, the dialogue hints at a possible reevaluation of nature conceptions arising from scientific advancements like the extended evolutionary synthesis. The exploration of nature's evolving conceptual frameworks aims to bridge current inadequacies and offer new perspectives.
Upcoming Projects and Academic Direction
The podcast conversation concludes with insights into upcoming academic projects and Peter Harrison's research trajectory. Considering a break after working on a significant book, Harrison hints at delving into conceptions of nature, inspired by scientific advancements and the need to revisit traditional perspectives. The dialogues suggest a fascinating journey into scientific and philosophical realms for future academic pursuits.
Peter D. Harrison FAHA (born 1955) is Professor Emeritus of History and Philosophy at the University of Queensland and a Professorial Research Fellow at the University of Notre Dame, Australia. In this episode we discuss his book Some New World: Myths of Supernatural Belief in a Secular Age.
Book link: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/some-new-world/300E90A9C1F983C06D4859F2BD365474