Nature and spirit: an essay in ecstatic naturalismNature and Spirit: An Essay in Ecstatic Naturalism develops an enlarged conception of nature that in turn calls for a transformed naturalism. Unline more descriptive naturalisms, such as those by Dewey, Santayana, and Buchler, ecstatic naturalism works out of the fundamental ontological difference between nature naturing(natura naturans) and nature natured (natura naturata). This difference underlies all other variations within a generic conception of nature. The spirit operates within a generic conception of nature. The spirit operates within a fragmented nature and has its own unique locations. Ecstatic naturalism does not eulogize spirit nor impose a process theodicy upon nature as a whole but carefully describes the ways in which spirit emerges from finite locations within the world. Methodologically, the text radically regrounds phenomenology so that it can work more closely with a metaphysics seeking the most generic forms of nature. The move from a transcendental phenomenology, which rests upon a profound misconception of the parcel of a radicalized naturalism, makes it possible to show how all orders of relevance are related to nature and to the spirit. This, in turn relocates the human process, with its dialectical tension between finitude and transendence, and places the self fully within the emergent structures of the community of interpreters as that community lives out of hope. The concept of worldhood is regrounded in pragmatic and semiotic terms, thus putting pressure on Heidegger's formulations. Peirce's pragmatic categorical structure is used to show how worldhood differs from any other order within the world. The correlation of the potencies of nature, which are presemiotic and preordinal, wit the orders of the world itself, is possible only through an ordinal phenomenology that remains attuned to the fundamental difference between nature naturing (the potencies) and nature natured (the orders of the world). Finally, the text redefines the divine natures in the light of an ecstatic naturalism that sees god as an order within the world that experiences the fragmented quality of nature. Process theology is challenged for its inability to grasp the tensions between god and the encompassing. Four divine natures are laid bare as they relate to nature and to each other. The work concludes with a description of the divine life in the face of the encompassing. |
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Contents
The Human Process | 40 |
The Signs of Community | 83 |
Worldhood | 120 |
Copyright | |
2 other sections not shown
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Common terms and phrases
analysis antecedent assimilation become permeable community of interpreters complex concept consciousness contour correlation creative critical common sense deeper demonic divine natures ecstatic naturalism embodiment emerge encompassing enological epiphanies of power Ernst Bloch eschatology finite finitude fourth divine dimension fragmented given order goad Heidegger hermeneutic human process ical innumerable orders Insofar integrity internal interpretive community Justus Buchler lives manifest meaning horizons metaphor metaphysical midworld monotheism movement moves natura naturans natural community nature naturing not-yet numinous ontological difference orders of relevance ordinal locations ordinal perspective Ordinal phenomenology participates Peirce phenomenon of hope phenomenon of worldhood possible potencies of nature power of expectation powers of origin preters prevail primal realm relation scope second divine dimension selving semiosis semiotic triad sheer relevance sign series sign systems social specific spirit strongly relevant struggles sustains symbols teleological temporal tension thematic theonomous third divine dimension tion traits transcendence transformation tures Umberto Eco
Bibliographic information
| Title | Nature and spirit: an essay in ecstatic naturalism |
| Author | Robert S. Corrington |
| Publisher | Fordham University Press, 1992 |
| Original from | the University of Michigan |
| Digitized | Jun 9, 2009 |
| ISBN | 0823213625, 9780823213627 |
| Length | 207 pages |
| Subjects | › › Philosophy / Ethics & Moral Philosophy Philosophy / General Philosophy / Good & Evil Philosophy / History & Surveys / General Philosophy / Movements / Phenomenology |
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