Transcending Towards Transcendence
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1558/imre.v14i4.421Keywords:
transcendence, transcending, ontology, metaphysics, religionAbstract
The following analysis aims to illustrate how, over the course of time, different meanings have become associated with the term transcendence. The article proposes distinguishing between the ontological meaning (i.e. the realm of transcendence) and the anthropological or epistemic use (i.e. the act or process of transcending, experientially and conceptually). Presenting examples from sociology (Thomas Luckmann) and psychology (Abraham H. Maslow) it will be illustrated that lack of discrimination may support or even foster an ontological reductionism which impedes adequate differentiation between humanistic (secular) and spiritual/religious ways to constitute values and meaning. A structural epistemological approach is described and recommended, as a respectful reconstruction of various ontological and metaphysical positions and background convictions in personal world-views.References
Feuerbach, L. 1846. Grundsätze der Philosophe der Zukunft. Frankfurt/M: Klostermann, 1967.
Joas, H. 1997. Die Entstehung der Werte. Frankfurt/M: Suhrkamp. (Eng. Trans. 2001. The Genesis of Values. Chicago, IL: University.of Chicago Press.)
Luckmann, T. 1967. The Invisible Religion. New York: Macmillan. (German ed. 1991. Die unsichtbare Religion. Frankfurt/M.: Suhrkamp.)
Luckmann, T. 1990. “Shrinking Transcendence, Expanding Religion?” Sociological Analysis 50(2): 127–138. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3710810
Maslow, A.H. 1969a. “Various Meanings of Transcendence.” Journal of Transpersonal Psychology 1(1): 56–66.
———. 1969b. “Theory Z.” Journal of Transpersonal Psychology 1(2): 31–47.
Ruschmann, E. 1998. “Foundations of Philosophical Counseling.” Inquiry. Critical Thinking Across the Disciplines 17(3): 21–35.
———. 1999. Philosophische Beratung. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer.
Schnädelbach, H. 1991. Philosophie. In Philosophie. Ein Grundkurs 1, edited by Martens, E. and H. Schnädelbach, 37–76. Reinbeck b. Hamburg: Rowohlt.
Schnell, T. 2009. Implizite Religiosität, 2nd rev. ed. Lengerich: Pabst.
———. 2009. “The Sources of Meaning and Meaning in Life Questionnaire (SoMe); Relations to Demographics and Well-being.” Journal of Positive Psychology 4(6): 483–499. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17439760903271074
Weigert, A.J. 1974. “Whose Invisible Religion? Luckmann Revisited.” Sociological Analyses 35(3): 181–188. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3710648
Wong, P.T. P. and P. S. Fry, eds. 1998. The Human Quest for Meaning. A Handbook of Psychological Research and Clinical Applications. London: L. Erlbaum Assoc.
