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Moral vitalism: understanding the foundations of righteous violence within everyday secular thought. This research will investigate the psychological foundations of righteous violence and extremist thinking within everyday secular cognition. Focusing on the tendency to view good and evil as spiritual forces, the project will provide insight into new forms of everyday moral cognition while also uncovering factors that drive the cycle of terrorism.
The Christian Culture of the Early Middle Ages. The 'Fall of the Roman Empire' has traditionally been seen as marking a major develpment in western history. Against such an interpretation, this project seeks to establish the importance of intellectual and cultural traditions associated with the coming to dominance in society of Christian ways. It will suggest that a largely new set of cultural practices and attitudes laid the foundation for a very different culture. The outcome will be a major ....The Christian Culture of the Early Middle Ages. The 'Fall of the Roman Empire' has traditionally been seen as marking a major develpment in western history. Against such an interpretation, this project seeks to establish the importance of intellectual and cultural traditions associated with the coming to dominance in society of Christian ways. It will suggest that a largely new set of cultural practices and attitudes laid the foundation for a very different culture. The outcome will be a major monograph and various shorter studies.Read moreRead less
Protestant Apocalypticism, the Book of Revelation, and History in English Thought, 1550-1800. This project will make a further significant contribution to Australia's strong international reputation in Early Modern Thought. It is crucial to Australians' understanding of our contemporary world in which Apocalyptic dualism, particularly the demonisation of the other by both Western conservative elites and Christian and Muslim fundamentalists,is a central feature of modern discourse. With conservat ....Protestant Apocalypticism, the Book of Revelation, and History in English Thought, 1550-1800. This project will make a further significant contribution to Australia's strong international reputation in Early Modern Thought. It is crucial to Australians' understanding of our contemporary world in which Apocalyptic dualism, particularly the demonisation of the other by both Western conservative elites and Christian and Muslim fundamentalists,is a central feature of modern discourse. With conservative religious movements which treat the Bible literally significantly on the increase in Australia, it is crucial to the national interest to be aware of the socially divisive elements in both Biblical fundamentalism and contemporary Protestant sectarian Apocalypticism. Read moreRead less
Hume's Sceptical Materialism. The early modern period is the decisive period in shaping the modern outlook, but its major figures are not well understood in Australia. This project will enable a broader and more unified understanding of the intellectual movements of the period (showing Hume to be not an intellectual outsider but someone offering a sceptical version of the radical Enlightenment) - and so will enable a better understanding of our intellectual heritage.
Philosophy, the Religious Life, and the Making of Modern Science. This project will enhance our understanding of unique features of Western society-in particular the success and prestige of the sciences and the waning influence of religion and philosophy. This will in turn provide fresh insights into science-religion controversies within the West and will shed light on the distinctive nature of the secular ethos of the West in comparison with cultures (such as some Islamic societies) in which r ....Philosophy, the Religious Life, and the Making of Modern Science. This project will enhance our understanding of unique features of Western society-in particular the success and prestige of the sciences and the waning influence of religion and philosophy. This will in turn provide fresh insights into science-religion controversies within the West and will shed light on the distinctive nature of the secular ethos of the West in comparison with cultures (such as some Islamic societies) in which religious considerations play a dominant role in public life and international affairs. Aside from its intrinsic merits, this project will also further promote Australia's growing reputation as a centre for excellence in the field of early modern intellectual history.Read moreRead less
Dwelling in the Household of God: The Spirituality of the Fourth Gospel. The household scenes in John's Gospel offer a new understanding of Johannine theology and its underlying spirituality. This study investigates the expression "The Household of God" as a major metaphor for the self-identity of the early Christian community as it is reflected in the narrative of the Fourth Gospel. The project will extend knowledge of the history and religious experience of one Christian community in the las ....Dwelling in the Household of God: The Spirituality of the Fourth Gospel. The household scenes in John's Gospel offer a new understanding of Johannine theology and its underlying spirituality. This study investigates the expression "The Household of God" as a major metaphor for the self-identity of the early Christian community as it is reflected in the narrative of the Fourth Gospel. The project will extend knowledge of the history and religious experience of one Christian community in the last three decades of the first century, particularly in the community's relationship with emerging Rabbinic Judaism.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101770
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$327,841.00
Summary
Secularism and Philosophy: The Challenge of Spinozism. With the resurgence of religious conflict throughout the world, the question of secularism has acquired renewed importance. Nowhere has the plausibility of a secular worldview been more rigorously debated than within the history of philosophy, and no philosopher has aroused more controversy on this subject than Benedict de Spinoza (1632-1677). This project will result in the first history of Spinozism's pivotal role in the history of secular ....Secularism and Philosophy: The Challenge of Spinozism. With the resurgence of religious conflict throughout the world, the question of secularism has acquired renewed importance. Nowhere has the plausibility of a secular worldview been more rigorously debated than within the history of philosophy, and no philosopher has aroused more controversy on this subject than Benedict de Spinoza (1632-1677). This project will result in the first history of Spinozism's pivotal role in the history of secularism, focusing on three distinct episodes of philosophical conflict generated by Spinoza's thought from the late eighteenth century to the present. The study will make clear that secularism is not simply a social and political phenomenon, but a philosophical conundrum, thus far irresolvable.Read moreRead less
Poverty and Welfare in Late Antiquity. Poverty and the provision of welfare are key concerns in Australia today. Many of the problems we face - refugee influxes, inflated housing costs, increased competition between charities for limited resources - are paralleled in late antiquity. This is a critical time in history that has unique things to say to Australian society today. A focussed study of this turning-point in history provides a novel perspective from which to assess the implications of cu ....Poverty and Welfare in Late Antiquity. Poverty and the provision of welfare are key concerns in Australia today. Many of the problems we face - refugee influxes, inflated housing costs, increased competition between charities for limited resources - are paralleled in late antiquity. This is a critical time in history that has unique things to say to Australian society today. A focussed study of this turning-point in history provides a novel perspective from which to assess the implications of current Australian trends, in which welfare is increasingly being devolved upon non-government organisations. It also enlarges the foundation for a dialogue on these issues, assisting in creating better solutions at both a government and non-government level.Read moreRead less
Soul Searching in the Islamic East: Self-knowledge and the Avicennan Legacy in the 13th Century Islamic East. By deepening our understanding of the philosophical tradition of the Islamic world, this project will 'enhance Australia's capacity to interpret and engage with its regional environment through a greater understanding of languages, societies and cultures' (Research priority 4: Understanding our region and the world), an understanding so much needed in Australia's increasingly pluralistic ....Soul Searching in the Islamic East: Self-knowledge and the Avicennan Legacy in the 13th Century Islamic East. By deepening our understanding of the philosophical tradition of the Islamic world, this project will 'enhance Australia's capacity to interpret and engage with its regional environment through a greater understanding of languages, societies and cultures' (Research priority 4: Understanding our region and the world), an understanding so much needed in Australia's increasingly pluralistic society. The pure research aspect of this project will attract attention to Australian based research in Medieval and studies and Arabic philosophy that is of international quality, contribute to the reputation of Australia's high quality research capability, and open new possibilities for international cooperation in the field.Read moreRead less
Mujaku Dochu (1653-1744) and the hidden foundations of modern Zen scholarship. Mujaku Dochu (1653-1744), a polymath Japanese monk of the Rinzai Zen Buddhist school was the major, but unacknowledged, founder of modern Zen scholarship. He established many critical editions, compiled dictionaries of colloquial Chinese terminology used in Zen, and wrote numerous commentaries or glosses to key Zen texts. He wrote the monastic regulations still used in Rinzai monasteries, and advised Hakuin (1685-17 ....Mujaku Dochu (1653-1744) and the hidden foundations of modern Zen scholarship. Mujaku Dochu (1653-1744), a polymath Japanese monk of the Rinzai Zen Buddhist school was the major, but unacknowledged, founder of modern Zen scholarship. He established many critical editions, compiled dictionaries of colloquial Chinese terminology used in Zen, and wrote numerous commentaries or glosses to key Zen texts. He wrote the monastic regulations still used in Rinzai monasteries, and advised Hakuin (1685-1768), the restorer of all modern Rinzai. This study will investigate Dochu's methodologies, his scholarly predecessors, and his influences on contemporaries and on modern Zen scholarship by examining his analyses of Chinese vocabulary, his lexicography and text criticism.Read moreRead less