GARY DORRIEN is the Reinhold Niebuhr and Kantian Reason What role, if any, did Immanuel Kant and Professor of Social Ethics at Union post-Kantian idealists such as Hegel play in Theological Seminary and Professor of “I have always told students that one cannot understand modern theology, including shaping modern theology? In Kantian Reason Religion at Columbia University. He is the Barthian theology, without a firm grasp of Kant. Dorrien’s work substantiates this and Hegelian Spirit, noted theologian Gary author of more than a dozen books, including Dorrien argues that Kantian and post-Kantian the highly acclaimed trilogy The Making of claim with an attention to detail that is nothing short of breathtaking. This book Hegelian Spirit idealism were instrumental in the foundation Liberal Theology (2001, 2003, 2006), and Social is a brilliant and much needed account of the influence of Immanuel Kant and the and development of modern Christian Ethics in the Making: Interpreting an American theology. Tradition (Wiley-Blackwell, 2008, 2010). tradition of post-Kantian idealism on modern theology.” William Stacy Johnson, Princeton Theological Seminary In this thought-provoking new work, Dorrien contends that while pre-Kantian rationalism offered a critique of religion’s authority, it “This is a brilliant and much needed book. Dorrien’s magisterial achievements to date held no theory about the creative powers lend his voice a special authority, but in this book, the reader is simply compelled of mind, nor about the spiritual ground and unifying reality of freedom. As Kant by the deft interplay of nuance and overview to trust his mentorship. Dorrien has provided both of these, he can be considered masterfully approached this most intimidating and yet indispensable corpus of texts Kantian Reason the originator of modern religious thought. Dorrien reveals how the post-Kantian with depth and breadth of analysis, and with an extraordinarily fresh perspective.” idealists also played an important role, by Catherine Keller, Drew University fashioning other forms of liberal religious and thought through alternative solutions to the Hegelian Spirit Kantian problems of subjectivity and dualism. “Gary Dorrien is a superstar as an interpreter of modern religious thought. This unique, fascinating, aggressively revisionary book will have no competition until Dorrien carefully dissects Kant’s three The Idealistic Logic of Modern Theology critiques of reason and his moral conception books appear to argue against it.” of religion, and analyzes the alternatives Frederick Ferré, University of Georgia to Kant offered by Schleiermacher, Schelling, Hegel, and others. Dorrien GARY DORRIEN goes on to provide a substantial account “This is an extraordinarily fine book, a delight to read, a real page-turner, and a of the development of liberal theology in brilliant interpretation, all of which one expects of such an accomplished scholar Britain, and the thought of Paul Tillich and Karl Barth, showing how these, as well as and author as Dorrien. As a theologian and historian, Dorrien is in top form. As a the dominant traditions of German liberal theologian and philosopher, he writes with precise, analytical control over the ideas theology, and even the powerful critiques of liberal religious idealism proffered by involved, offering, among other things, the best treatment I know of the evolving DO Kierkegaard and the left-Hegelian school, relations among Fichte, Schelling, and Hegel. No one else I know could have were rooted in Kantian or post-Kantian idealism. written this book, which will be the dominant treatment of its subject. Kantian Reason and Hegelian Spirit is a magisterial interpretive history of one of the most important RRIEN Presenting these notoriously difficult theological deltas of our time.” arguments in a wonderfully lucid and accessible manner, Dorrien solidifies his Robert C. Neville, Boston University reputation as a pre-eminent social ethicist. Kantian Reason and Hegelian Spirit offers deeply illuminating insights into the impact of Cover images: Interior of Köln Cathedral, Germany © Florian Monheim / Arcaid / Corbis nineteenth-century philosophical idealism on Portrait of George Hegel © World History Archive / Alamy contemporary religious thought. Portrait of Friedrich Schleiermacher and Portrait of Immanuel Kant, both © Interfoto / Alamy. ISBN 978-0-470-67331-7 90000 Cover design by Simon Levy Associates 9 780470 673317 Dorian aw.indd 1 10/1/12 09:41:20 Kantian Reason and Hegelian Spirit Books by Gary Dorrien Logic and Consciousness The Democratic Socialist Vision, Reconstructing the Common Good The Neoconservative Mind: Politics, Culture, and the War of Ideology Soul in Society: The Making and Renewal of Social Christianity The Word as True Myth: Interpreting Modern Theology The Remaking of Evangelical Theology The Barthian Revolt in Modern Theology The Making of American Liberal Theology: Imagining Progressive Religion, 1805–1900 The Making of American Liberal Theology: Idealism, Realism and Modernity, 1900–1950 Imperial Designs: Neoconservatism and the New Pax Americana The Making of American Liberal Theology: Crisis, Irony and Postmodernity, 1950–2005 Social Ethics in the Making: Interpreting an American Tradition Economy, Difference, Empire: Social Ethics for Social Justice Obama in Question: A Progressive Critique and Defense Kantian Reason and Hegelian Spirit: The Idealistic Logic of Modern Theology Kantian Reason and Hegelian Spirit The Idealistic Logic of Modern Theology Gary Dorrien Reinhold Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics, Union Theological Seminary Professor of Religion, Columbia University This edition first published 2012 Ó 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd Wiley-Blackwell is an imprint of John Wiley & Sons, formed by the merger of Wiley’s global Scientific, Technical and Medical business with Blackwell Publishing. Registered Office John Wiley & Sons Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK Editorial Offices 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148-5020, USA 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford, OX4 2DQ, UK The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK For details of our global editorial offices, for customer services, and for information about how to apply for permission to reuse the copyright material in this book please see our website at www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell. The right of Gary Dorrien to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher. 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Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-470-67331-7 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Philosophical theology. 2. Kant, Immanuel, 1724-1804–Influence. 3. Hegel, Georg Wilhelm Friedrich, 1770-1831–Influence. I. Title. BT40.D67 2012 230.090034–dc23 2011045996 A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. Set in 10/12.5pt Galliard by Thomson Digital, Noida, India 1 2012 For Cindy, Nelleke, Mike, Xan, Kevin, and Hannah, with affection and treasured memories. Contents Preface and Acknowledgments ix 1 Introduction: Kantian Concepts, Liberal Theology, and Post-Kantian Idealism 1 2 Subjectivity in Question: Immanuel Kant, Johann G. Fichte, and Critical Idealism 23 3 Making Sense of Religion: Friedrich Schleiermacher, John Locke, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and Liberal Theology 84 4 Dialectics of Spirit: F. W. J. Schelling, G. W. F. Hegel, and Absolute Idealism 159 5 Hegelian Spirit in Question: David Friedrich Strauss, Søren Kierkegaard, and Mediating Theology 243 6 Neo-Kantian Historicism: Albrecht Ritschl, Adolf von Harnack, Wilhelm Herrmann, Ernst Troeltsch, and the Ritschlian School 315 7 Idealistic Ordering: Lux Mundi, Andrew Seth Pringle-Pattison, Hastings Rashdall, Alfred E. Garvie, Alfred North Whitehead, William Temple, and British Idealism 378 8 The Barthian Revolt: Karl Barth, Paul Tillich, and the Legacy of Liberal Theology 454 9 Idealistic Ironies: From Kant and Hegel to Tillich and Barth 530 Index 574 Preface and Acknowledgments Until now, I lacked an answer for one of the nicest questions: “Which book of yours means the most to you?” Usually I stammered the truth – “I have no idea.” Otherwise I settled for an evasion – “The next one.” At last I have a real answer,