Description
Book SynopsisGeorge Santayana (1862-1952) of Spanish descent, and generally claimed to be in the canon of American philosophers, was substantially influenced by his Roman Catholic origins in his philosophical disposition toward the value of tradition, religious symbols and dogma. His philosophical project sustained a respectful attitude toward the spiritual value of orthodox religion while the thrust of his philosophy was naturalistic and materialistic throughout. There is a perception by some scholars that Santayana's philosophy evolved from a humanistic perspective to a more spiritual one in his later years. It is the position of this thesis that his philosophy, at the core depicting a harmonious striving toward individual happiness, remained essentially consistent from his earliest publication of Interpretations of Poetry and Religion and The Life of Reason through his later works of Scepticism and Animal Faith, Realms of Being, Dominations and Powers and The Idea of Christ in the Gospels. Santa
Trade ReviewGeorge Santayana’s Philosophy of Religion is a useful work for the philosophic scholar, as it brings together a wide range of references and material that could easily serve as the impetus for further study. * International Journal for Philosophy of Religion *
It is striking that despite Santayana’s extensive consideration of religious themes scholars have generally abstained from attributing to him a philosophy of religion. Edward W. Lovely’s new book boldly bucks this trend. The author makes a compelling case that Santayana’s thinking delivers an un-proclaimed but evident 'phenomenological method,' and further suggests that Santayana’s uniquely naturalistic account of spirituality speaks more than ever to today’s religiously inclined. This book ought to invite vigorous debate about how a self-proclaimed 'materialist' can have so much to offer, across aisles of devotion, to religious debate. -- Matthew Caleb Flamm, Rockford College
One of the most compelling pieces of evidence for the great value of Edward Lovely’s approach to Santayana through his philosophy of religion is the way Lovely’s work ties together the main areas of Santayana’s thought and addresses key interpretative disputes. In demonstrating the significance of Catholicism for Santayana’s philosophy, Lovely relates in mutually enlightening ways Santayana’s ontology, moral philosophy, and cultural critique…Lovely’s inquiry confronts head-on the seeming contradiction between Santayana’s materialism and his embrace of conservative Catholic ideals while also showing Santayana innovative reconceptions of prayer, immortality, and salvation in ways relevant to the European cultural bequest in the twenty-first century. The book is profitable for both student and scholar, and it signals the continuing fertility of Santayana’s philosophy. -- Martin A. Coleman, Director and Editor, The Santayana Edition, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
The past twenty years have seen a remarkable renaissance of interest in Santayana's philosophy. This book is a thoughtful and detailed study of Santayana's views on religion. Lovely is sensitive to the full complexity of Santayana's ideas and explores their connections to the tradition of phenomenology. The research is comprehensive and Lovely makes significant contributions to the existing literature. -- John Lachs, Vanderbilt University
Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: A Paradoxical “Catholic” Naturalist Chapter 2: The Philosophical Basis For Santayana’s Philosophy Of Religion Chapter 3: The Phenomenological Character of Santayana’s Philosophy Of The Spirit Chapter 4: The Coherent Nature of Santayana’s Philosophy Of Religion Chapter 5: Aspects Of Santayana’s Legacy to Religious studies In the Third Millennium
