A Call for a Permissible Plurality Within Theory-Building in a Time of Excess

Theory in a Time of Excess (Equinox 2017) serves as a useful starting point to argue for a plural understanding of theory in the study of religion. While the existing conversation often implies that there is only one acceptable way of theorizing, it seems useful to distinguish between (at least) thr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Method & theory in the study of religion
Main Author: Hermann, Adrian 1981- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill [2018]
In: Method & theory in the study of religion
Year: 2018, Volume: 30, Issue: 4/5, Pages: 487-497
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Theory in a time of excess / Science of Religion / Theory / Pluralism
RelBib Classification:AA Study of religion
AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism
AG Religious life; material religion
Further subjects:B Discourse
B Theory
B Plurality
B Religion
B Creativity
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
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Summary:Theory in a Time of Excess (Equinox 2017) serves as a useful starting point to argue for a plural understanding of theory in the study of religion. While the existing conversation often implies that there is only one acceptable way of theorizing, it seems useful to distinguish between (at least) three understandings of theory—and a fourth potentially "illegitimate" one. These four forms (discourse theories, creative theories, scientific theories, and essentialist theories) are all present in the volume. Different theoretical approaches can learn from each other and expose their respective blind spots, which is the main reason to further a meta-theoretical debate about a permissible plurality within theory-building. Rather than a call to "just get along" under one big tent, this critical attitude implies that we should strive to better profile all four of these forms of theorizing in order to discuss their potential place in our discipline.
ISSN:1570-0682
Contains:Enthalten in: Method & theory in the study of religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/15700682-12341442