Color: A Functionalist Proposal

In this paper I propose and defend an account of color that I call color functionalism. I argue that functionalism is a non-traditional species of primary quality theory, and that it accommodates our intuitions about color and the facts of color science better than more widely discussed alternatives.     

Civic Education: a New Proposal

Studies in Philosophy and Education -     

Gregory Bateson: A Final Metaphor

It is no secret that Gregory Bateson was often disturbed by interpretations and translations of his ideas by pragmatically oriented therapists. In his later years Bateson and I occasionally discussed the strategy of connecting ecosystemic epistemology to clinical contexts. One of his last letters to me proposes the form of how he thought the "battle," as he called it, should be carried out. A part of this letter is shared with the reader as one of Gregory's final metaphors.     

Mere Metaphysics: An Ecumenical Proposal

This is the second part of an essay that appeared in Modern Theology in October, 2018, entitled “After Heidegger and Marion: The Task of Christian Metaphysics Today.” Whereas the first part made a case for the importance of metaphysics to Christian theology (specifically in the form of an analogical, proto‐Christological metaphysics), and hinted at its ecumenical potential, the point here is twofold: first, to provide a more detailed argument for analogical metaphysics as the kind of metaphysics Christianity in fact implies; secondly, to elaborate its ecumenical potential – now, though, more specifically, with regard to the Christian East. Whereas the previous essay sought to overcome while respecting the difference between Catholic analogy and Reformed dialectics by arguing for a dialectical analogy as the proper form of Christian metaphysics, here the specific task is to show a formal compatibility between the analogical metaphysics of the Christian West and the sophiological metaphysics of the Christian East. Accordingly, the goal is to show that there is such a thing as a mere metaphysics – a common metaphysics – of the Christian tradition, notwithstanding real differences and mutually enriching emphases.     

A Modest Proposal: A Pastoral Political Theology

A pastoral political theology, I contend, has four goals, namely, (a) critical, systemic examination of political governance, policies, programs, and structures vis-à-vis the concept of care—theologically understood, (b) facilitating cooperation and collaboration with diverse others in cultivating public spaces of appearances, (c) offering concrete plans in meeting the needs of particular others—citizen and non-citizen, and (d) assessing the implementation of these solutions. In this article, I offer an outline of and foundational theological premises for a pastoral political theology, indicating its distinctions from and contributions to political theologies that focus on justice and liberation. More specifically, I focus on the first goal, relying on the concept of care, theologically understood, as a hermeneutical framework for assessing the political milieu.     

A Modest Proposal

The language of “consecration” to describe what the presider does at Holy Communion seems to have many more drawbacks than advantages.  Based on a misunderstanding of the Institution Narratives, it nurtures an understanding of the Sacrament centered on the presider and the elements, while marginalizing the assembly.  It leads to the unthinking adoption of practices with significant theological hazards.  In every way, “presiding” is to be preferred.     

Toward a Cosmic Christology: A Kerygmatic Proposal

This kerygmatic (Tillich) proposal for a cosmic christology presupposes (with Sittler) that in our times the scope of christology must be as large as the whole creation. Noting a body of extant literature pertaining to the theme (Teilhard de Chardin, Tillich, Gunton, Moltmann, Fox, McFague, Edwards), this article argues that Martin Luther's “ubiquity Christology” should receive a fresh hearing in order to broaden and deepen the current discussion, in a way that can contribute both to kerygmatic and apologetic theological constructions. Concerns of critics of Luther's ubiquity Christology are addressed and its underdeveloped character is noted, with suggestions for expanding Luther's vision. At the end, the potential ecumenical benefits of this kind of reclamation of Luther's thought are affirmed, as is the need for kerygmatic theologians to develop not only cosmic christologies, but also cosmic pneumatologies.     

Feasibility beyond Non-ideal Theory: a Realist Proposal

Ethical Theory and Moral Practice - Some realists in political theory deny that the notion of feasibility has any place in realist theory, while others claim that feasibility constraints are...     

Cognitive and Moral Enhancement: A Practical Proposal

According to Persson and Savulescu, the risks posed by a morally corrupt minority's potential to abuse cognitive enhancement make it such that we have an urgent imperative to first pursue moral enhancement of humankind – and, consequently, if we are a long way from safe, effective moral enhancement, then we have at least one good reason to consider opposing further cognitive enhancement. However, as Harris points out, such a proposal seems to support delaying life-saving cognitive progress. In this article, we first show that Harris's worry can be expanded to show that Persson and Savulescu's proposal also threatens the development of moral enhancement – precisely what they suggest we have pro tanto reason to pursue. From there, we offer our own, alternative proposal – one on which cognitively enhanced researchers play a key role in the production of moral enhancement, and those in the general population who wish to be cognitively enhanced must first accept moral enhancement as an entry requirement. We engage with four substantive objections to our proposal and use these objections to refine and strengthen the details.     

The Orders of Vocation: A Brunnerian Proposal

This article draws on the idea of the ‘orders of creation’ as developed in Emil Brunner’s The Divine Imperative (1932) and shows that Brunner’s understanding of the orders provides a fruitful theological foundation for conceptualizing Christian vocation and for framing the process of discernment therein. However, the concept of orders of creation is a mistrusted doctrine with problematic historical baggage. A few attempts have been made to rehabilitate the concept of the orders, but a successful revival requires a more thorough reimagining of the doctrine than has been previously attempted. Examining Christian vocation within the framework of the orders of creation, I undertake to reimagine the doctrine of orders as orders of vocation, supplying a definition of vocation as the unifying principle of those tasks which emerge where the will of God intersects with one’s familial, economic, political, cultural and ecclesial responsibilities. The orders of vocation serve as a heuristic device that relativizes vocation in light of the particularities of concrete life. All activity within the orders of vocation is inevitably moral activity. Also, the orders of vocation, as opposed to orders of creation, emphasize the perennial necessity of reformation within the spheres of communal life.