'Theology as a vocation' : Ernst Troeltsch as philosophical theologian
This thesis attempts a systematisation of Troeltsch's work which takes as its starting point the distinctive philosophical and theological problems arising from the modern conditions of humanity and society. These centre on the fundamental conflict of autonomy and the need for authority - the impasse of the Enlightenment. The theologian's vocation is to attempt to re-integrate the individual within absolute structures of authority without denying the individual's autonomy. Troeltsch 1 s project is seen as in some ways anticipating that of Maclntyre in After Virtue. Troeltsch does not attempt to recreate the medieval synthesis, nor to isolate Christianity from the world, but to combine the relative structures of the modern world with the absolute structures of authority embodied in Christianity. The basis for Troeltsch's solution rests upon his philosophy of religion, which owes its distinctive character to Kant and the critical idealism deriving from him. Troeltsch moves beyond Kant, however, in his notion of the interpenetration of the spheres of practical and theoretical reason. This interpenetration alone allows for the survival of the autonomy of the individual. The attempt to grasp reality sub specie
Chapman, Mark David
Philosophy
'Theology as a vocation' : Ernst Troeltsch as philosophical theologian. This thesis attempts a systematisation of Troeltsch's work which takes as its starting point the distinctive philosophical and theological problems arising from the modern conditions of humanity and society. These centre on the fundamental conflict of autonomy and the need for authority - the impasse of the Enlightenment. The theologian's vocation is to attempt to re-integrate the individual within absolute structures of authority without denying the individual's autonomy. Troeltsch 1 s project is seen as in some ways anticipating that of Maclntyre in After Virtue. Troeltsch does not attempt to recreate the medieval synthesis, nor to isolate Christianity from the world, but to combine the relative structures of the modern world with the absolute structures of authority embodied in Christianity. The basis for Troeltsch's solution rests upon his philosophy of religion, which owes its distinctive character to Kant and the critical idealism deriving from him. Troeltsch moves beyond Kant, however, in his notion of the interpenetration of the spheres of practical and theoretical reason. This interpenetration alone allows for the survival of the autonomy of the individual. The attempt to grasp reality sub specie
theology vocation philosophical theologian attempt work take_start_point distinctive philosophical_theological problem_arise modern condition humanity society centre fundamental conflict autonomy need authority impasse enlightenment theologian vocation attempt_re integrate individual_within absolute structure authority without deny individual_autonomy project see way anticipate virtue attempt recreate medieval synthesis isolate christianity world combine relative structure modern_world absolute structure authority embody christianity basis solution rest_upon philosophy_religion owe distinctive_character kant_critical idealism derive him move_beyond kant however notion spheres practical theoretical reason alone allow survival autonomy individual attempt grasp reality sub specie