A Call for a Permissible Plurality Within Theory-Building in a Time of Excess
Theory in a Time of Excess (Equinox 2017) serves as a useful starting point to argue for a plural understanding of theory in the study of religion. While the existing conversation often implies that there is only one acceptable way of theorizing, it seems useful to distinguish between (at least) thr...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
[2018]
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| In: |
Method & theory in the study of religion
Year: 2018, Volume: 30, Issue: 4/5, Pages: 487-497 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Theory in a time of excess
/ Science of Religion
/ Theory
/ Pluralism
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| IxTheo Classification: | AA Study of religion AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism AG Religious life; material religion |
| Further subjects: | B
Discourse
B Theory B Plurality B Religion B Creativity |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) Volltext (doi) |
| Summary: | Theory in a Time of Excess (Equinox 2017) serves as a useful starting point to argue for a plural understanding of theory in the study of religion. While the existing conversation often implies that there is only one acceptable way of theorizing, it seems useful to distinguish between (at least) three understandings of theory—and a fourth potentially "illegitimate" one. These four forms (discourse theories, creative theories, scientific theories, and essentialist theories) are all present in the volume. Different theoretical approaches can learn from each other and expose their respective blind spots, which is the main reason to further a meta-theoretical debate about a permissible plurality within theory-building. Rather than a call to "just get along" under one big tent, this critical attitude implies that we should strive to better profile all four of these forms of theorizing in order to discuss their potential place in our discipline. |
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| ISSN: | 1570-0682 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Method & theory in the study of religion
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/15700682-12341442 |