Religion as Social Reality. A Take on the Emic–Etic Debate in Light of John Searle’s Philosophy of Society


Autoria(s): Rota, Andrea
Data(s)

01/10/2015

Resumo

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 philoso- phy of society for the scientific study of religion\s. Considering the role of intentional- ity 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 frame- work. 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.

Formato

application/pdf

Identificador

http://boris.unibe.ch/73458/1/15700682_12341369_text.pdf

Rota, Andrea (2015). Religion as Social Reality. A Take on the Emic–Etic Debate in Light of John Searle’s Philosophy of Society. Method & Theory in the Study of Religion Brill 10.1163/15700682-12341369 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15700682-12341369>

doi:10.7892/boris.73458

info:doi:10.1163/15700682-12341369

urn:issn:0943-3058

Idioma(s)

eng

Publicador

Brill

Relação

http://boris.unibe.ch/73458/

http://booksandjournals.brillonline.com/content/journals/10.1163/15700682-12341369

Direitos

info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess

Fonte

Rota, Andrea (2015). Religion as Social Reality. A Take on the Emic–Etic Debate in Light of John Searle’s Philosophy of Society. Method & Theory in the Study of Religion Brill 10.1163/15700682-12341369 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15700682-12341369>

Palavras-Chave #200 Religion #210 Philosophy & theory of religion
Tipo

info:eu-repo/semantics/article

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

PeerReviewed