Constructivist Foundations 11 (1):119-126 (2015)
Abstract |
Context: In the literature of radical constructivism, the epistemology and ontology of religion has been rarely discussed. Problem: I investigate the impact of radical constructivism on some aspects of religion - in particular, on the conflict that is sometimes perceived to arise between religion and natural science, discussed in the context of religious belief. Method: It is argued that the epistemology of radical constructivism serves to distinguish between items of cognitive and non-cognitive knowledge. This makes it possible to discuss issues of religious belief, which are non-cognitive, from a constructivist epistemic and ontological perspective. Results: I conclude that radical constructivism cannot be invoked to support or contradict any particular religious faith; the individual knower will construct her own ontology, as part of her store of non-cognitive knowledge, in interaction with her environment ; on the other hand, any knowledge of it must be constructed in the mind of the knower, and there is no way to identify any one construction as being objectively “right” or “true.” Hence the truth value of propositions of religious conviction cannot be argued in cognitive terms. Implications: It is argued that these results elevate the knower into a position of personal autonomy with respect to religious issues. One consequence of this is the emergence of a fundamental epistemic incompatibility between the worldviews of radical constructivism and religion of any kind. Another is that the old dichotomy between atheism and agnosticism disappears - or rather, becomes irrelevant. Constructivist content: The role played by radical constructivism in the approach to cognitive vs. non-cognitive knowledge is discussed, specifically as pertaining to issues of religion. The construction of knowledge is a strictly personal enterprise, and the use of constructed non-cognitive knowledge then forms a basis for the individual knower’s religious position
|
Keywords | No keywords specified (fix it) |
Categories | (categorize this paper) |
Options |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Download options
References found in this work BETA
No references found.
Citations of this work BETA
No citations found.
Similar books and articles
Ethics: A Radical-Constructivist Approach.A. Quale - 2014 - Constructivist Foundations 9 (2):256-261.
Can a Radical Constructivist Be Religious? - Yes!L. P. Steffe - 2015 - Constructivist Foundations 11 (1):131-134.
The Interesting Similarity of Religious and Everyday Epistemic Positions.U. Kordeš - 2015 - Constructivist Foundations 11 (1):126-128.
Issues in Relation to Learning About Religion.H. Gash - 2015 - Constructivist Foundations 11 (1):137-138.
The Cognition of Religion: Radical-Constructivist Considerations.T. McCloughlin - 2015 - Constructivist Foundations 11 (1):128-131.
The Epistemic Relativism of Radical Constructivism: Some Implications for Teaching the Natural Sciences.A. Quale - 2007 - Constructivist Foundations 2 (2-3):107-113.
Why I Am a Constructivist Atheist.J. P. Van Bendegem - 2015 - Constructivist Foundations 11 (1):138-140.
Between Realism and Constructivism? Luhmann's Ambivalent Epistemological Standpoint.A. Scholl - 2012 - Constructivist Foundations 8 (1):5-12.
On the Role of Constructivism in Mathematical Epistemology.A. Quale - 2012 - Constructivist Foundations 7 (2):104-111.
Author’s Response: Is God a Radical Constructivist?A. Quale - 2015 - Constructivist Foundations 11 (1):140-147.
Radical Constructivism and Social Justice: Educational Implications.D. I. Dykstra Jr - 2014 - Constructivist Foundations 9 (3):318-321.
The Issue of Reductionism. A Radical Constructivist Approach to the Philosophy of Physics.A. Quale - 2008 - Constructivist Foundations 4 (1):43-49.
Radical Constructivism in Communication Science.A. Scholl - 2010 - Constructivist Foundations 6 (1):51-57.
Analytics
Added to PP index
2015-11-16
Total views
11 ( #797,511 of 2,411,744 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
1 ( #539,061 of 2,411,744 )
2015-11-16
Total views
11 ( #797,511 of 2,411,744 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
1 ( #539,061 of 2,411,744 )
How can I increase my downloads?
Downloads