The Return of the Prodigal Son: Cognitive Science of Religion
and the Re-Emergence of the Problem of Explanation in the Study
of Religion

p 2015

The Return of the Prodigal Son: Cognitive Science of Religion and the Re-Emergence of the Problem of Explanation in the Study of Religion

FRANEK, Juraj

Basic information

Original name

The Return of the Prodigal Son: Cognitive Science of Religion and the Re-Emergence of the Problem of Explanation in the Study of Religion

Authors

FRANEK, Juraj (703 Slovakia, guarantor, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Religious Ideas & Scientific Thought, McGill Centre for Research on Religion 7th Annual Graduate Student Conference, 25.-26. 9. 2015, Montréal, Canada, 2015

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Vyžádané přednášky

Field of Study

60300 6.3 Philosophy, Ethics and Religion

Country of publisher

Canada

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14210/15:00084071

Organization unit

Faculty of Arts

Keywords in English

Cognitive Science of Religion; CSR; Explanation; Naturalism

Abstract

V originále

(1) Theoretical interest in the phenomenon of religion throughout the western intellectual tradition may be divided into two distinct and mutually exclusive paradigms: Naturalistic paradigm explains religious phenomena by reducing them to their non-religious cause(s); protectionist paradigm aims at a description, interpretation and, ultimately, understanding of religious phenomena, explicitly denying the possibility of their reductive explanation. (2) From a historical perspective, naturalistic paradigm emerges as early as presocratic philosophy; rudiments of the protectionist paradigm are formulated in early Christian literature. (3) While founding figures of modern study of religion in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century adopted both naturalistic and protectionist stance, widespread adoption of phenomenology as the preferred method in the study of religion thwarted explanatory approaches in the field for the most part of the twentieth century. (4) CSR is best seen as an attempt to explain religious beliefs and actions as by-products of the evolved cognitive machinery of our species and marks the return of the explanation to the study of religion. (5) In spite of the claims to the contrary by both naturalists (e.g., Justin Barrett) and protectionists (see the basic concept of phenomenological bracketing), a broad overview of the history of the study of religion clearly shows that theory formation in the study of religion may be axiologically neutral, yet it can never be neutral with respect to the truth value of the propositions accepted by religious actors. (6) As a consequence of the incommensurability of naturalistic and protectionist paradigms, religious scholars have worked and will work under the protectionist paradigm; non-religious scholars under the naturalistic one.

Links

MUNI/A/1284/2014, interní kód MU

Name: Interdisciplinární výzkum antických jazyků, jejich literatur a příslušných kultur (Acronym: Antické jazyky, literatury a spol.)

Investor: Masaryk University, Category A

Citovat

FRANEK, Juraj. The Return of the Prodigal Son: Cognitive Science of Religion and the Re-Emergence of the Problem of Explanation in the Study of Religion. In Religious Ideas & Scientific Thought, McGill Centre for Research on Religion 7th Annual Graduate Student Conference, 25.-26. 9. 2015, Montréal, Canada. 2015.

@misc{1312580,
   author = {Franek, Juraj},
   booktitle = {Religious Ideas & Scientific Thought, McGill Centre for Research on Religion 7th Annual Graduate Student Conference, 25.-26. 9. 2015, Montréal, Canada},
   keywords = {Cognitive Science of Religion; CSR; Explanation; Naturalism},
   language = {eng},
   title = {The Return of the Prodigal Son: Cognitive Science of Religion and the Re-Emergence of the Problem of Explanation in the Study of Religion},
   year = {2015}
}

TY  - SLIDE
ID  - 1312580
AU  - Franek, Juraj
PY  - 2015
TI  - The Return of the Prodigal Son: Cognitive Science of Religion and the Re-Emergence of the Problem of Explanation in the Study of Religion
KW  - Cognitive Science of Religion
KW  - CSR
KW  - Explanation
KW  - Naturalism
N2  - (1) Theoretical interest in the phenomenon of religion throughout the western intellectual tradition may be divided into two distinct and mutually exclusive paradigms: Naturalistic paradigm explains religious phenomena by reducing them to their non-religious cause(s); protectionist paradigm aims at a description, interpretation and, ultimately, understanding of religious phenomena, explicitly denying the possibility of their reductive explanation. (2) From a historical perspective, naturalistic paradigm emerges as early as presocratic philosophy; rudiments of the protectionist paradigm are formulated in early Christian literature. (3) While founding figures of modern study of religion in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century adopted both naturalistic and protectionist stance, widespread adoption of phenomenology as the preferred method in the study of religion thwarted explanatory approaches in the field for the most part of the twentieth century. (4) CSR is best seen as an attempt to explain religious beliefs and actions as by-products of the evolved cognitive machinery of our species and marks the return of the explanation to the study of religion. (5) In spite of the claims to the contrary by both naturalists (e.g., Justin Barrett) and protectionists (see the basic concept of phenomenological bracketing), a broad overview of the history of the study of religion clearly shows that theory formation in the study of religion may be axiologically neutral, yet it can never be neutral with respect to the truth value of the propositions accepted by religious actors. (6) As a consequence of the incommensurability of naturalistic and protectionist paradigms, religious scholars have worked and will work under the protectionist paradigm; non-religious scholars under the naturalistic one.
ER  -

FRANEK, Juraj. The Return of the Prodigal Son: Cognitive Science of Religion and the Re-Emergence of the Problem of Explanation in the Study of Religion. In \textit{Religious Ideas \&{} Scientific Thought, McGill Centre for Research on Religion 7th Annual Graduate Student Conference, 25.-26. 9. 2015, Montréal, Canada}. 2015.

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