An Introduction to Wittgenstein's Philosophy of Religion

Rating:
Summary: Important book on Wittgenstein and religion.
Review: Brian Clack is a teacher at St Clare's College in Oxford in England. His book is important for anyone who wants to learn more about Wittgenstein and religion, and understand anti-realism in the philosophy of religion.

Brian Clack obviously has a pretty good grasp on Wittgenstein. He starts his book with giving an introdcution to Wittgenstein's philosophy in general. Then he continues with touching issues that more explicitly relate to religion and the philosophy of religion. He explains Wittenstein's ideas in Culture and Value and Remarks on Frazer's Golden Bough. Thess texts by Wittgenstein himself may be somewhat difficult to understand, but Clack introduces the material and may show you how this relates to other parts of Wittgenstein's philosophy. The book also covers such topics as Wittgensteinian views on miracles and prayer, immortality and Wittgenstein's relation to radical theologians like Don Cupitt.

I give the book four stars because Brian Clack has dared to write a clear and simple philosophical text, while still being able to communicate the important points in Wittgensteinian philosophy of religion. This is a very well-written book. The reason why I don't give it five, is that I think it should have contained a little more critical discussion. Some of the points Clack make should have been challenged a little or at least discussed more critically, for instance that religious language is not descriptive, that certain religious propositions are sbsurd or irrational if interpretated as descriptions of potential facts and Clack's general non-cognitivist attitude. It would have been interesting if Clack had mentioned Alston, Plantinga and Swinburne and some classical Christian thinkers a bit more and been willing to defend his own views.

However, this is an introduction and Clack has chosen an approach and in a sense I respect that. The most important thing about this book is that it is to-the-point, and raises a lot of questions. It is an excellent starting point for further thinking, and grosso modo Clack has written a very interesting book.

Rating:
Summary: Important book on Wittgenstein and religion.
Review: Brian Clack is a teacher at St Clare's College in Oxford in England. His book is important for anyone who wants to learn more about Wittgenstein and religion, and understand anti-realism in the philosophy of religion.

Brian Clack obviously has a pretty good grasp on Wittgenstein. He starts his book with giving an introdcution to Wittgenstein's philosophy in general. Then he continues with touching issues that more explicitly relate to religion and the philosophy of religion. He explains Wittenstein's ideas in Culture and Value and Remarks on Frazer's Golden Bough. Thess texts by Wittgenstein himself may be somewhat difficult to understand, but Clack introduces the material and may show you how this relates to other parts of Wittgenstein's philosophy. The book also covers such topics as Wittgensteinian views on miracles and prayer, immortality and Wittgenstein's relation to radical theologians like Don Cupitt.

I give the book four stars because Brian Clack has dared to write a clear and simple philosophical text, while still being able to communicate the important points in Wittgensteinian philosophy of religion. This is a very well-written book. The reason why I don't give it five, is that I think it should have contained a little more critical discussion. Some of the points Clack make should have been challenged a little or at least discussed more critically, for instance that religious language is not descriptive, that certain religious propositions are sbsurd or irrational if interpretated as descriptions of potential facts and Clack's general non-cognitivist attitude. It would have been interesting if Clack had mentioned Alston, Plantinga and Swinburne and some classical Christian thinkers a bit more and been willing to defend his own views.

However, this is an introduction and Clack has chosen an approach and in a sense I respect that. The most important thing about this book is that it is to-the-point, and raises a lot of questions. It is an excellent starting point for further thinking, and grosso modo Clack has written a very interesting book.