I mentioned a word about Andreas Kinneging's new book (at least new in English translation), The Geography of Good and Evil: Philosophical Investigations (ISI, 2009).  ISI was also kind enough to send me a copy of John Carroll's The Wreck of Western Culture: Humanism Revisited (ISI, 2008) . . .

Thanks again, ISI!  It appears that Carroll's purpose is to point to the Christian faith as central to the rebuilding of a meaningful civilization.  "Humanism," and ultimately the Enlightenment world it spawned, is a dead end.  The way forward entails attention to the past--the distant past.  As in the "Word" wiith which John begins his gospel.  Carroll writes about humanism, "Our story is told.  Its purpose has been simple, to shout that humanism is dead, and has been since the nineteenth century.  It is time to quit it" (p. 261).  He continues, "it is time to bury the dead, and to start the difficult business of restoring our capacity for life.  In the beginning, at the foundation, where all truth roads meet, was the word" (p. 262).  I want to read more thoroughly to see how Carroll does or does not point to Christ.  Also, he appears fairly pessimistic about reason, so I want to see further exactly what role reason plays in his understanding.  But any book that suggests that the right and proper (and only!) response to Humanism and the Enlightenment entails attention to a particular first-century carpenter's son is worthy of attention.

• Prev
• Next