TY - JOUR
T1 - The coherence and character of the humanities
T2 - A reply to critics
AU - Drees, W.B.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors. Zygon® published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Joint Publication Board of Zygon.
PY - 2021/9/23
Y1 - 2021/9/23
N2 - In this issue of Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science, Donald Drakeman, Peter Harrison, Douglas Ottati, Michael Ruse, and Lisa Stenmark reflect on Willem B. Drees, What Are the Humanities For? In my response to Harrison, I argue that the humanities do form a coherent domain, shaped by two fundamental orientations—the quest to understand fellow humans and self-involvement. In response to Ruse, I defend my definition of the humanities as neither too wide nor too narrow. With Ottati, I concur that institutional proximity of religious studies and theology is beneficial to both. Against Stenmark, who considers my approach typically Western, I challenge the distinction she makes. Her contribution confirms what Drakeman writes, that ambitions about “value-free” scholarship are controversial. His own contribution makes clear that this aspiration is necessary to serve the well-being of peoples around the world. These five responses to my book provide an opportunity to reflect on my proposal for envisaging the humanities.
AB - In this issue of Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science, Donald Drakeman, Peter Harrison, Douglas Ottati, Michael Ruse, and Lisa Stenmark reflect on Willem B. Drees, What Are the Humanities For? In my response to Harrison, I argue that the humanities do form a coherent domain, shaped by two fundamental orientations—the quest to understand fellow humans and self-involvement. In response to Ruse, I defend my definition of the humanities as neither too wide nor too narrow. With Ottati, I concur that institutional proximity of religious studies and theology is beneficial to both. Against Stenmark, who considers my approach typically Western, I challenge the distinction she makes. Her contribution confirms what Drakeman writes, that ambitions about “value-free” scholarship are controversial. His own contribution makes clear that this aspiration is necessary to serve the well-being of peoples around the world. These five responses to my book provide an opportunity to reflect on my proposal for envisaging the humanities.
KW - humanities
KW - Religious studies
KW - scholarship
KW - theology
KW - value-free
U2 - 10.1111/zygo.12725
DO - 10.1111/zygo.12725
M3 - Article
VL - 56
SP - 746
EP - 757
JO - Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science
JF - Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science
SN - 0591-2385
IS - 3
ER -