عنوان

Religion as Social Reality

LA121536

انگلیسی

Religion as Social Reality

[Article]

Andrea Rota

Leiden

Brill

In this article I argue that the shift from a private to a public-social understanding of religion raises new ontological and epistemological questions for the scientific study of religion\s. These questions are deeply related to three central features of the emic-etic debate, namely the problems of intentionality, objectivity, and comparison. Focusing on these interrelated issues, I discuss the potential of John Searle's philosophy of society for the scientific study of religion\s. Considering the role of intentionality at the social level, I present Searle's concept of "social ontology" and discuss its epistemological implications. To clarify Searle's position regarding the objectivity of the social sciences, I propose a heuristic model contrasting different stances within the scientific study of religion\s. Finally, I explore some problematic aspects of Searle's views for a comparative study of religion\s, and sketch a solution within his framework. I shall argue that a distinction between the epistemological and ontological dimensions of religious affairs would help clarify the issues at stake in the past and future of the emic-etic debate.

2016

421-444

Method & Theory in the Study of Religion

28/4-5

1570-0682

collective intentionality

comparison

epistemology

General

John Searle

objectivity

Religious Studies

social ontology

subjectivity

Andrea Rota

10.1163/15700682-12341369

p

[Article]

275578

a

Y