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Decolonizing the Curriculum:Dialogical Work Toward Epistemic Justice in Higher Education
No full textJürgen Habermas's Post-Secular History of Philosophy
No full textIn Also a History of Philosophy (2019) Habermas observes that in the history of modern thought, metaphysical approaches are increasingly redundant; they are losing their ability to determine supra-historical principles, which constitute the foundation of the common good. He believes that a metaphysical interest in existential and ethical matters can only be of a personal nature. In what he calls the ‘post-secular era’, Habermas wants to embed religious communities in a secular conversation. It is not religion that is criticized by Habermas, but the last remnants of philosophical metaphysics that are visible in the German tradition of thought. This article argues that Habermas comes to conclusions which abandon truth orientation in philosophical metaphysics. Habermas paints a picture of the philosophical tradition in which it comes to the realization that transcendental forms of thought cannot offer strong arguments anymore. This article tries to briefly present an alternative picture of philosophy that does not identify with such a post-metaphysical interpretation. It is argued that religious intuitions can only be translated into secular language and taken seriously if this ambition of a philosophical metaphysics to express valid claims about ethical and existential questions is not abandoned.In This too a History of Philosophy (2019) Habermas observes that in the history of modern thought, metaphysical approaches are increasingly redundant; they are losing their ability to determine supra-historical principles, which constitute the foundation of the common good. He believes that a metaphysical interest in existential and ethical matters can only be of a personal nature. In what he calls the ‘post-secular era’, Habermas wants to embed religious communities in a secular conversation. It is not religion that is criticized by Habermas,but the last remnants of philosophical metaphysics that are visible in the German tradition of thought. This article argues that Habermas comes to conclusions which abandon truth orientation in philosophical metaphysics. Habermas paints a picture of the philosophical tradition in which it comes to the realization that transcendental forms of thought cannot offer strong arguments anymore. This article tries to briefly present an alternative picture of philosophy that does not identify with such a post-metaphysical interpretation. It is argued that religious intuitions can only be translated into secular language and taken seriously if this ambition of a philosophical metaphysics to express valid claims about ethical and existential questions is not abandoned
Humanism as a critical, entangled, and inclusive worldview
No full textThe central question in this chapter is how to understand contemporary humanism as a worldview. Three developments in humanistic thought – towards critical, entangled, and inclusive humanism – are presented as guidelines for outlining a dynamic, contextualized, and critical view of contemporary humanism. This view critically engages with work by Dutch authors who have, over the last decades, theorized humanism as a worldview, in particular work by Jaap van Praag and Peter Derkx. Furthermore, as worldviews comprise an understanding of spirituality - an understanding of goodness that people may connect with, even in the face of severely disorienting experiences – the notion of humanist spirituality is elaborated on, on the basis of philosophical ideas by Iris Murdoch, Emmanuel Levinas, and Hannah Arendt
Engaging with the Suffering Other:Moral Reorientations of Health Care Chaplains at the Start of the COVID-19 Pandemic
No full textChaplaincy care is often described as a relational and moral practice, which is based on an attitude of presence. Safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, challenged chaplains in reshaping their work. This article questions what characterized chaplains’ relational practice during the crisis, and what moral orientations helped them in maintaining or rebuilding this. In-depth interviews were conducted with 25 health care chaplains during the lock-down of Dutch nursing homes, spring 2020. Thematic analyses revealed six subthemes as part of the overarching theme of ‘engagement with the suffering other’. Participants had to overcome moral challenges which required a reorientation or revaluation of their standards of care. Although the research focused on these particular COVID-19 circumstances, the relational work and accompanying moral perspectives is intrinsically tied to chaplaincy practice. Moreover, the study points to the need for attention to moral dilemmas and meaning-seeking processes of the chaplains themselves in crisis situations.Chaplaincy care is often described as a relational and moral practice, which is based on an attitude of presence. Safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, challenged chaplains in reshaping their work. This article questions what characterized chaplains’ relational practice during the crisis, and what moral orientations helped them in maintaining or rebuilding this. In-depth interviews were conducted with 25 health care chaplains during the lock-down of Dutch nursing homes, spring 2020. Thematic analyses revealed six subthemes as part of the overarching theme of ‘engagement with the suffering other’. Participants had to overcome moral challenges which required a reorientation or revaluation of their standards of care. Although the research focused on these particular COVID-19 circumstances, the relational work and accompanying moral perspectives is intrinsically tied to chaplaincy practice. Moreover, the study points to the need for attention to moral dilemmas and meaning-seeking processes of the chaplains themselves in crisis situations
