MacIntyre and Postmodern Theological Epistemology James Van Slyke

Alasdair MacIntyre Most well known in ethics; justification of moral claims Most well known in ethics; justification of moral claims Relevant to rationality and religious belief systems Relevant to rationality and religious belief systems Primary Texts Primary Texts After Virtue (1984)After Virtue (1984) Whose Justice? (1988)Whose Justice? (1988) Three Rival Versions (1990)Three Rival Versions (1990)

Alasdair MacIntyre Additions to Quine Additions to Quine Web with a historyWeb with a history Historically extended argument Historically extended argument Criteria for justification of a tradition is how it changes over time Criteria for justification of a tradition is how it changes over time Notion of a formative or authoritative text (or other authority)Notion of a formative or authoritative text (or other authority) Socially embodied (communal aspect to reason)Socially embodied (communal aspect to reason)

Socially embodied Beliefs are lived out in a community Beliefs are lived out in a community Recall Cartesian picture Recall Cartesian picture Beliefs locked inside the head – movie theatre with no one else thereBeliefs locked inside the head – movie theatre with no one else there Do not know if beliefs are trueDo not know if beliefs are true Postmodern picture Postmodern picture Language is something we use together in the things we doLanguage is something we use together in the things we do Can judge whether they are adequate or notCan judge whether they are adequate or not

Socially Embodied Beliefs that fail the test are rejected in favor of those that succeed better Beliefs that fail the test are rejected in favor of those that succeed better Not pure pragmaticismNot pure pragmaticism Failure or success occurs through conversationFailure or success occurs through conversation Turn in paper and get back comments Turn in paper and get back comments Failure or success when measured by other beliefs that are considered trueFailure or success when measured by other beliefs that are considered true

Formative Text Parallel with Kuhn Parallel with Kuhn Paradigms include classic textsParadigms include classic texts Newton’s Principia Newton’s Principia All traditions start from some historically contingent authority, oral or written All traditions start from some historically contingent authority, oral or written Greek culture = Homeric epicsGreek culture = Homeric epics Christian tradition = The BibleChristian tradition = The Bible

Formative Text Contrast with modernity; authority not a part of epistemology Contrast with modernity; authority not a part of epistemology Christians abnormal for basing faith on bookChristians abnormal for basing faith on book Leads to attempts to ‘shore up’ the textLeads to attempts to ‘shore up’ the text Rather, not necessary to justify the use of a text Rather, not necessary to justify the use of a text To be part of Christian tradition = Christian texts as authoritative To be part of Christian tradition = Christian texts as authoritative

Formative text Participation in a tradition Participation in a tradition Ongoing argument about how best to interpret and apply formative textsOngoing argument about how best to interpret and apply formative texts Understanding scripture Understanding scripture Application of scripture to current problems Application of scripture to current problems What does it mean to live by these texts? What does it mean to live by these texts? Practical theology and ethics essential to justification of a traditionPractical theology and ethics essential to justification of a tradition

Historically Extended Bible itself actually represents the development of a tradition Bible itself actually represents the development of a tradition When the canon is fixed, it becomes authoritative When the canon is fixed, it becomes authoritative Can mark major milestones Can mark major milestones Augustine, Aquinas, CalvinAugustine, Aquinas, Calvin Branching sub-traditions, like a bush rather than a treeBranching sub-traditions, like a bush rather than a tree

Justifying a Tradition If all standards for justification are internal to a tradition; how do we justify If all standards for justification are internal to a tradition; how do we justify Many traditions will fail according to their own standardsMany traditions will fail according to their own standards Some traditions fail on their own termsSome traditions fail on their own terms The tradition that does not fail on its own terms is justified The tradition that does not fail on its own terms is justified

Justifying a Tradition Traditions go through stages Traditions go through stages Authority is unquestionedAuthority is unquestioned Authority is put into questionAuthority is put into question Internal inconsistencies Internal inconsistencies Historical changes it can’t deal with Historical changes it can’t deal with Rival Worldview Rival Worldview ExamplesExamples Historical critical method – interpretation Historical critical method – interpretation Challenges within science Challenges within science

Justifying a Tradition Ordinary challenges – part of practices in a tradition Ordinary challenges – part of practices in a tradition Some challenges call whole tradition into question Some challenges call whole tradition into question Especially by calling into question truth, justification, etc in traditionEspecially by calling into question truth, justification, etc in tradition Crisis first recognized by insiders Crisis first recognized by insiders

Justifying a tradition Overcoming a Crisis Overcoming a Crisis Invention or discovery of new concepts and theoriesInvention or discovery of new concepts and theories Conceptual enrichment Conceptual enrichment Solves problem in a coherent way Solves problem in a coherent way Explains where tradition went wrong before discoveryExplains where tradition went wrong before discovery Remains some fundamental continuity with tradition’s historyRemains some fundamental continuity with tradition’s history

Overcoming Relativism Two traditions: A and B Two traditions: A and B Comparing themComparing them A will assume B to be mistaken and vice versa A will assume B to be mistaken and vice versa One way One way B is in crisisB is in crisis A not in crisisA not in crisis A is objectively superiorA is objectively superior

Overcoming Relativism Second way Second way Someone from A can learn to understand B from insideSomeone from A can learn to understand B from inside B is in a particular crisisB is in a particular crisis A can explain what is missing from the tradition and why you are stuck at this pointA can explain what is missing from the tradition and why you are stuck at this point Shows that A’s point of view is more adequateShows that A’s point of view is more adequate

Overcoming Relativism Visual Metaphor Visual Metaphor I see you and I am able to see what you can’t seeI see you and I am able to see what you can’t see I can also explain why you can’t see itI can also explain why you can’t see it Can see the blind spot in your visionCan see the blind spot in your vision