God and the Other Ethics and Politics after the Theological Turn [Paperback]

The theological turn in French phenomenology has been of great interest to scholars working in contemporary continental thought, but according to J. Aaron Simmons, not enough has been done to bring these debates into conversation with more mainstream philosophy. Building on the work of Kierkegaard, Levinas, Marion, and Derrida, among others, Simmons suggests how continental philosophy of religion can intersect with political philosophy, environmental philosophy, and theories of knowledge. By productively engaging philosophical God-talk, Simmons proposes a robust model of postmodern religious belief and ethical existence.

J. Aaron Simmons is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Hendrix College. He is editor (with David Wood) of Kierkegaard and Levinas: Ethics, Politics, and Religion (IUP, 2008).

Debates within so-called continental philosophy and analytic philosophy are far closer to each other than most on either side realize. By boldly crossing the continental/analytic divide, J. Aaron Simmons convincingly argues that engagement between the two is not only possible, but necessary. God and the Other is a significant step forward.J. Aaron Simmons has firm command not only of recent work on Levinas and Kierkegaard, but also of a wide range of alternatives in analytic philosophy of religion and political philosophy. More than an exercise in analytic-continental bridge building, Simmons moves continental ethics forward and makes it politically worthwhile.This book convincingly argues from epistemological, ethical, ontological, and political angles that the theological turn of new phenomenology might inform contemporary ethics and politicsnot despite its God talk, but because of it . . . . The book is an invaluable resource for those sorting through the theological turn and for those who hear the call of the Other.This book is an encouraging sign about new directions in Continental philosophyand Continental philosophy of religion more specificallylS+