Divine hyperbolics: Desmond, religion, metaphysics and the postmodern

Simpson, Christopher Ben (2008) Divine hyperbolics: Desmond, religion, metaphysics and the postmodern. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham.

[img]
Preview
PDF - Requires a PDF viewer such as GSview, Xpdf or Adobe Acrobat Reader
Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

This thesis is a systematic presentation of William Desmond's philosophical system and an argument for its viability and superiority relative to dominant alternate visions, here represented by that of John D. Caputo. Desmond, I argue, provides a viable and preferable alternative to - and an alternative narrating of - the kind of late twentieth century "postmodern" anti-metaphysical frame represented by Caputo. Desmond's vision is viable in that it answers Caputo's critiques - showing that they need not be the case. Here Desmond shows how metaphysics (and ethics and religion informed by metaphysics) escapes Caputo's narration/location. Desmond defeats Caputo's defeaters in order to make Desmond's vision a possible position. On a deeper level, Desmond's vision is arguably preferable inasmuch it can be used to critique Caputo's vision - largely in that it (Desmond's vision) as it can be seen to fulfill Caputo's motivating concerns in a more satisfying manner than Caputo's own vision. It does this in two ways. First, from Desmond's vision one can see how such a "LeviNietzschean" vision tends to betray its own motivating concerns. Second, Desmond's position shows how a metaphysical vision/stance/picture (like Desmond's) is, in fact, necessary for one to fulfill these concerns (... or simply necessary, as such). In this manner, Desmond out-narrates the "postmodern" "LeviNietzschean" position, showing Desmond's as a preferable position - as possessing a broader and greater explanatory reach.

Item Type: Thesis (University of Nottingham only) (PhD)
Supervisors: Milbank, John
Keywords: William Desmond, Desmond, Caputo, Metaphysics, Hyperbolics, Postmodern, Theology, Religion
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
Faculties/Schools: UK Campuses > Faculty of Arts > School of Humanities
Item ID: 10510
Depositing User: EP, Services
Date Deposited: 14 Aug 2008
Last Modified: 15 Oct 2017 13:45
URI: https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/10510

Actions (Archive Staff Only)

Edit View Edit View