MacIntyre and Postmodern MacIntyre and Postmodern Theological EpistemologyTheological Epistemology

James Van Slyke James Van Slyke

Alasdair MacIntyre Alasdair MacIntyre

Most well known in ethics; Most well known in ethics; justification of moral claimsjustification of moral claims

Relevant to rationality and religious Relevant to rationality and religious belief systems belief systems

Primary Texts Primary Texts • After VirtueAfter Virtue (1984) (1984) • Whose Justice?Whose Justice? (1988) (1988)• Three Rival VersionsThree Rival Versions (1990) (1990)

Alasdair MacIntyreAlasdair 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 Criteria for justification of a tradition is how

it changes over timeit changes over time

• Notion of a formative or authoritative Notion of a formative or authoritative text (or other authority) text (or other authority)

• Socially embodied (communal aspect to Socially embodied (communal aspect to reason) reason)

Socially embodiedSocially embodied

Beliefs are lived out in a communityBeliefs are lived out in a community Recall Cartesian pictureRecall Cartesian picture

• Beliefs locked inside the head – movie Beliefs locked inside the head – movie theatre with no one else theretheatre with no one else there

• Do not know if beliefs are trueDo not know if beliefs are true Postmodern picturePostmodern picture

• Language is something we use together Language is something we use together in the things we doin the things we do

• Can judge whether they are adequate or Can judge whether they are adequate or notnot

Socially EmbodiedSocially Embodied

Beliefs that fail the test are rejected Beliefs that fail the test are rejected in favor of those that succeed betterin favor of those that succeed better• Not pure pragmaticismNot pure pragmaticism• Failure or success occurs through Failure or success occurs through

conversationconversation Turn in paper and get back commentsTurn in paper and get back comments

• Failure or success when measured by Failure or success when measured by other beliefs that are considered true other beliefs that are considered true

Formative Text Formative Text

Parallel with Kuhn Parallel with Kuhn • Paradigms include classic textsParadigms include classic texts

Newton’s Newton’s PrincipiaPrincipia

All traditions start from some All traditions start from some historically contingent authority, oral historically contingent authority, oral or written or written • Greek culture = Homeric epicsGreek culture = Homeric epics• Christian tradition = The Bible Christian tradition = The Bible

Formative TextFormative Text

Contrast with modernity; authority Contrast with modernity; authority not a part of epistemology not a part of epistemology • Christians abnormal for basing faith on Christians abnormal for basing faith on

bookbook• Leads to attempts to ‘shore up’ the textLeads to attempts to ‘shore up’ the text

Rather, not necessary to justify the Rather, not necessary to justify the use of a textuse of a text

To be part of Christian tradition = To be part of Christian tradition = Christian texts as authoritative Christian texts as authoritative

Formative textFormative text

Participation in a tradition Participation in a tradition • Ongoing argument about how best to Ongoing argument about how best to

interpret and apply formative texts interpret and apply formative texts Understanding scriptureUnderstanding scripture Application of scripture to current problemsApplication 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 Practical theology and ethics essential to justification of a tradition to justification of a tradition

Historically Extended Historically Extended

Bible itself actually represents the Bible itself actually represents the development of a tradition development of a tradition

When the canon is fixed, it becomes When the canon is fixed, it becomes authoritative authoritative

Can mark major milestones Can mark major milestones • Augustine, Aquinas, CalvinAugustine, Aquinas, Calvin• Branching sub-traditions, like a bush Branching sub-traditions, like a bush

rather than a tree rather than a tree

Justifying a TraditionJustifying a Tradition

If all standards for justification are If all standards for justification are internal to a tradition; how do we internal to a tradition; how do we justifyjustify• Many traditions will fail according to Many traditions will fail according to

their own standards their own standards • Some traditions fail on their own terms Some traditions fail on their own terms

The tradition that does not fail on its The tradition that does not fail on its own terms is justified own terms is justified

Justifying a TraditionJustifying a Tradition

Traditions go through stagesTraditions go through stages• Authority is unquestionedAuthority is unquestioned• Authority is put into question Authority is put into question

Internal inconsistencies Internal inconsistencies Historical changes it can’t deal withHistorical changes it can’t deal with Rival Worldview Rival Worldview

• ExamplesExamples Historical critical method – interpretationHistorical critical method – interpretation Challenges within science Challenges within science

Justifying a TraditionJustifying a Tradition

Ordinary challenges – part of Ordinary challenges – part of practices in a traditionpractices in a tradition

Some challenges call whole tradition Some challenges call whole tradition into question into question • Especially by calling into question truth, Especially by calling into question truth,

justification, etc in traditionjustification, etc in tradition Crisis first recognized by insiders Crisis first recognized by insiders

Justifying a traditionJustifying a tradition

Overcoming a Crisis Overcoming a Crisis • Invention or discovery of new concepts Invention or discovery of new concepts

and theories and theories Conceptual enrichmentConceptual enrichment Solves problem in a coherent waySolves problem in a coherent way

• Explains where tradition went wrong Explains where tradition went wrong before discoverybefore discovery

• Remains some fundamental continuity Remains some fundamental continuity with tradition’s history with tradition’s history

Overcoming RelativismOvercoming Relativism

Two traditions: A and B Two traditions: A and B • Comparing themComparing them

A will assume B to be mistaken and vice A will assume B to be mistaken and vice versa versa

One wayOne way• B is in crisisB is in crisis• A not in crisisA not in crisis• A is objectively superior A is objectively superior

Overcoming RelativismOvercoming Relativism

Second way Second way • Someone from A can learn to Someone from A can learn to

understand B from inside understand B from inside • B is in a particular crisis B is in a particular crisis • A can explain what is missing from the A can explain what is missing from the

tradition and why you are stuck at this tradition and why you are stuck at this pointpoint

• Shows that A’s point of view is more Shows that A’s point of view is more adequate adequate

Overcoming RelativismOvercoming Relativism

Visual MetaphorVisual Metaphor• I see you and I am able to see what you I see you and I am able to see what you

can’t seecan’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 vision Can see the blind spot in your vision