Merold Westphal’s appropriation of Paul Ricoeur’s “hermeneutics of suspicion”
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22240/sent29.02.101Keywords:
Paul Ricoeur, Merold Westphal, hermeneutics of suspicion, atheism, criticism of religion, Marxism, psychoanalysisAbstract
This article analyzes the main ideas of Paul Ricoeur’s hermeneutics of suspicion and especially its reception in Merold Westphal’s philosophy of religion. The author shows that Ricoeur’s concept of hermeneutics can be used not only as a theory for understanding texts but also as an effective methodology of historical and philosophical analysis as well as the interpretation of various aspects of social life. The author also shows that the use of a hermeneutics of suspicions in relation to the field of religious phenomena is a powerful tool for deciphering and unmasking religious illusions and latent sources of human behavior. The criticism of religion by Freud, Marx, and Nietzsche is akin to the traditional Christian doctrine of the sinfulness of human nature. For this reason, the author proposes to consider the hermeneutics of suspicion as an effective means of reminding religious communities about the necessity of constant self-examination and self-criticism.References
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Benson, B. (2008). Pious Nietzsche: Decadence and Dionysian Faith. Bloomington: Indiana UP.
Blundell, B. (2010). Paul Ricoeur between Theology and Philosophy: Detour and Return. Bloomington: Indiana UP.
Clegg, J. (2001). Life in the Shadow of Christ, Nietzsche on Pistis versus Gnosis. In S. Weaver (Ed.), Nietzsche and the Gods. (pp. 159-172). Albany: State University of New York Press.
Fodor, J. (1995). Christian Hermeneutics: Paul Ricoeur and the Refiguring of Theology. Oxford, & New York: Oxford UP. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198263494.001.0001
Fraser, G. (2002). Redeeming Nietzsche: On the Piety of Unbelief. London: Routledge.
Freud, S. (1980). Massenpsychologie und Ich-Analyse. Frankfurt am Main: Fischer-Taschenbuch-Verlag.
Heidegger, M. (1977). Nietzsches Wort «Gott Ist Tot». In M. Heidegger, Holzwege (S. 209-267). Frankfurt am Main: Klostermann.
Hume, D. (2007a). Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion. In D. Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion and Other Writings (pp. 3-108). Cambridge, UK; New York: Cambridge UP.
Hume, D. (2007b). From The Natural History of Religion. In D. Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion and Other Writings (pp. 124-136). Cambridge, UK; New York: Cambridge UP.
Kee, A. (1999). Nietzsche Against the Crucified. London: SCM.
Losyk, O. (2011). Paul Ricoeur's Philosophy of Memory. [In Ukrainian]. In Visnyk of Lviv University: Series Philosophical Sciense, 14, 57-63.
MacIntyre, A. (1984). Marxism and Christianity. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press.
Paulose, P. М. (2000). Encounter in Humanization: Insights for Christian-Marxist Dialogue and Cooperation. Thiruvalla: CSS.
Putt, K., (Ed.). (2009). Gazing Through a Prism Darkly: Reflections on Merold Westphal's Hermeneutical Epistemology. New York: Fordham UP. https://doi.org/10.5422/fso/9780823230457.001.0001
Ricoeur, P. (1969). Le conflit des interprétations: essais d'herméneutique. Paris: Seuil.
Roberts, P. T. (1998). Contesting Spirit: Nietzsche, Affirmation, Religion. Princeton: Princeton UP.
Shulga, E. N. (2008). Hermeneutics of Paul Ricoeur and contemporary problem of epistemology [In Russian]. In I. S. Vdovina (Ed.), Paul Ricoeur the Philosopher of Dialogue. Moscow: IPh Academy of Sciences.
Sigov, C. (2006). Paul Ricoeur: memory, history, gratitude. [In Ukrainian]. Dukh i Litera, 15-16, 6-17.
Stiver, D. (2001). Theology after Ricoeur: New Directions in Hermeneutical Theology. Louisville: Westminster John Knox.
Vanhoozer, K. (1990). Biblical Narrative in the Philosophy of Paul Ricoeur: A Study in Hermeneutics and Theology. Cambridge: Cambridge UP. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511598050
Vdovina I. S., Blauberg I. I., & Machulskaya, O.I. at alias. (2008). Paul Ricoeur the philosopher of dialogue. [In Russian]. Moscow: IPh Academy of Sciences.
Vdovina, I. S. (2005). In memory of Paul Ricoeur. [In Russian]. In Voprosy Filosofii, 11, 44-63.
Westphal, M. (1992). The Cheating of Cratylus (Genitivus Subjectivus). In J. Caputo, J. Marsh, & M. Westphal (Eds.), Modernity and Its Discontents (pp. 163-182). New York: Fordham UP.
Westphal, M. (1997). Nietzsche as a Theological Resource. In Modern Theology, 13(2), 213-226. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0025.00038
Westphal, M. (1998). Suspicion and Faith: The Religious Uses of Modern Atheism. New York: Fordham UP.
Westphal, M. (2001). Overcoming Onto-theology: Toward a Postmodern Christian Faith. New York: Fordham UP. https://doi.org/10.5422/fso/9780823221301.001.0001
Westphal, M. (2008). Taking Suspicion Seriously: The Religious Uses of Modern Atheism. In K. Clark (Ed.), Readings in the Philosophy of Religion (pp. 277-287). Peterborough, Ont.: Broadview Press.
Westphal, M. (2010). Atheism for Lent. In A. David (Ed.), «God Is Dead» and I Don't Feel So Good Myself (pp. 67-78). Eugene, Or.: Cascade.
Young, J. (2006). Nietzsche's Philosophy of Religion. Cambridge, UK; New York: Cambridge UP. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511584411
Benson, B. (2008). Pious Nietzsche: Decadence and Dionysian Faith. Bloomington: Indiana UP.
Blundell, B. (2010). Paul Ricoeur between Theology and Philosophy: Detour and Return. Bloomington: Indiana UP.
Clegg, J. (2001). Life in the Shadow of Christ, Nietzsche on Pistis versus Gnosis. In S. Weaver (Ed.), Nietzsche and the Gods. (pp. 159-172). Albany: State University of New York Press.
Fodor, J. (1995). Christian Hermeneutics: Paul Ricoeur and the Refiguring of Theology. Oxford, & New York: Oxford UP. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198263494.001.0001
Fraser, G. (2002). Redeeming Nietzsche: On the Piety of Unbelief. London: Routledge.
Freud, S. (1980). Massenpsychologie und Ich-Analyse. Frankfurt am Main: Fischer-Taschenbuch-Verlag.
Heidegger, M. (1977). Nietzsches Wort «Gott Ist Tot». In M. Heidegger, Holzwege (S. 209-267). Frankfurt am Main: Klostermann.
Hume, D. (2007a). Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion. In D. Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion and Other Writings (pp. 3-108). Cambridge, UK; New York: Cambridge UP.
Hume, D. (2007b). From The Natural History of Religion. In D. Hume, Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion and Other Writings (pp. 124-136). Cambridge, UK; New York: Cambridge UP.
Kee, A. (1999). Nietzsche Against the Crucified. London: SCM.
Losyk, O. (2011). Paul Ricoeur's Philosophy of Memory. [In Ukrainian]. In Visnyk of Lviv University: Series Philosophical Sciense, 14, 57-63.
MacIntyre, A. (1984). Marxism and Christianity. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press.
Paulose, P. М. (2000). Encounter in Humanization: Insights for Christian-Marxist Dialogue and Cooperation. Thiruvalla: CSS.
Putt, K., (Ed.). (2009). Gazing Through a Prism Darkly: Reflections on Merold Westphal's Hermeneutical Epistemology. New York: Fordham UP. https://doi.org/10.5422/fso/9780823230457.001.0001
Ricoeur, P. (1969). Le conflit des interprétations: essais d'herméneutique. Paris: Seuil.
Roberts, P. T. (1998). Contesting Spirit: Nietzsche, Affirmation, Religion. Princeton: Princeton UP.
Shulga, E. N. (2008). Hermeneutics of Paul Ricoeur and contemporary problem of epistemology [In Russian]. In I. S. Vdovina (Ed.), Paul Ricoeur the Philosopher of Dialogue. Moscow: IPh Academy of Sciences.
Sigov, C. (2006). Paul Ricoeur: memory, history, gratitude. [In Ukrainian]. Dukh i Litera, 15-16, 6-17.
Stiver, D. (2001). Theology after Ricoeur: New Directions in Hermeneutical Theology. Louisville: Westminster John Knox.
Vanhoozer, K. (1990). Biblical Narrative in the Philosophy of Paul Ricoeur: A Study in Hermeneutics and Theology. Cambridge: Cambridge UP. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511598050
Vdovina I. S., Blauberg I. I., & Machulskaya, O.I. at alias. (2008). Paul Ricoeur the philosopher of dialogue. [In Russian]. Moscow: IPh Academy of Sciences.
Vdovina, I. S. (2005). In memory of Paul Ricoeur. [In Russian]. In Voprosy Filosofii, 11, 44-63.
Westphal, M. (1992). The Cheating of Cratylus (Genitivus Subjectivus). In J. Caputo, J. Marsh, & M. Westphal (Eds.), Modernity and Its Discontents (pp. 163-182). New York: Fordham UP.
Westphal, M. (1997). Nietzsche as a Theological Resource. In Modern Theology, 13(2), 213-226. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0025.00038
Westphal, M. (1998). Suspicion and Faith: The Religious Uses of Modern Atheism. New York: Fordham UP.
Westphal, M. (2001). Overcoming Onto-theology: Toward a Postmodern Christian Faith. New York: Fordham UP. https://doi.org/10.5422/fso/9780823221301.001.0001
Westphal, M. (2008). Taking Suspicion Seriously: The Religious Uses of Modern Atheism. In K. Clark (Ed.), Readings in the Philosophy of Religion (pp. 277-287). Peterborough, Ont.: Broadview Press.
Westphal, M. (2010). Atheism for Lent. In A. David (Ed.), «God Is Dead» and I Don't Feel So Good Myself (pp. 67-78). Eugene, Or.: Cascade.
Young, J. (2006). Nietzsche's Philosophy of Religion. Cambridge, UK; New York: Cambridge UP. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511584411
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Published
2013-12-16
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Soloviy, R. (2013). Merold Westphal’s appropriation of Paul Ricoeur’s “hermeneutics of suspicion”. Sententiae, 29(2), 101–113. https://doi.org/10.22240/sent29.02.101
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