Synopsis: Critical Conversations provides a series of theological
engagements with the work of Michael Polanyi, one of the twentieth
century's most profound philosophers of science. Polanyi's
sustained explorations of the nature of human knowing open a range
of questions and themes of profound importance for theology. He
insists on the need to recover the categories of faith and belief
in accounting for the way we know and points to the importance of
tradition and the necessity sometimes of conversion in order to
learn the truth of things. These themes are explored along with
Polanyi's social and political thought, his anthropology, his
hermeneutics, and his conception of truth. Several of the essays
set Polanyi alongside the work of other thinkers, particularly Karl
Barth, Lesslie Newbigin, Hans-Georg Gadamer, and Rene Girard, and
they discuss points of comparison and contrast between the
respective figures. While all the essays are appreciative of
Polanyi's contribution, they do not shy away from critical
analysis--and take further, therefore, the critical appreciation of
Polanyi's work. Endorsement: "Though not often heard in
contemporary theology, Michael Polanyi's voice had a significant
influence over the likes of T. F. Torrance and Colin Gunton. . . .
Polanyi's groundbreaking work offers constructive avenues for
thinking through, not simply the relationship between faith and
science, but many central themes in the Christian tradition. Such
potential is aptly demonstrated in this warmly recommended
collection of essays. Murray Rae and his colleagues have done us a
good service in compiling this study." --John G. Flett Habilitand
at the Kirchliche Hochschule Wuppertal/Bethel, and author of The
Witness of God: The Trinity, Missio Dei, Karl Barth and the Nature
of Christian Community (2010) "Michael Polanyi has attracted
growing attention . . . in many disciplines in recent years. This
scintillating collection . . . critically engages with Polanyi's
post-positivist ideas on the important role in all human knowing
played by faith, relationality, authority, tradition, and
communities of inquiry. As well as exploring his social, political,
anthropological, and theological views, contributors bring Polanyi
into conversation with Karl Barth, Lesslie Newbiggin, Hans-Georg
Gadamer, and Rene Girard. This is theology-and-science at its most
responsible, insightful, and interesting. Read it " --John
Stenhouse Associate Professor, Department of History, University of
Otago, and editor with Ronald L. Numbers of Disseminating
Darwinism: The Role of Place, Race, Religion and Gender (1999)
"Critical Conversations displays two remarkably distinctive things
about . . . Michael Polanyi's epistemology. The rich, open-ended
truthfulness of his proposals inspires innovative and penetrating
cross-disciplinary conversations of all kinds; and conversants thus
engaged experience freeing creativity and conviviality. Theological
engagement is especially fruitful since Polanyi himself challenges
a deadening Enlightenment legacy with an approach that is
knowledge- and humanity- and hope-restoring because it is
theologically attuned. These essayists offer a rich conversation
that others may join profitably--convivially." --Esther L. Meek
Associate Professor of Philosophy, Geneva College, and author of
Loving to Know: Introducing Covenant Epistemology (2011) Editor
Biography: Murray Rae is Professor of Theology and Ethics at the
University of Otago, New Zealand.
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