"Philosophical presuppositions" refers to the underlying beliefs or assumptions that people have about the nature of reality, knowledge, and existence. These beliefs shape their understanding of the world and influence how they interpret and think about various philosophical ideas.
Full definition
Christian ethicists usually have no great difficulty in admiring and even recommending these virtues, also in cases where they do not fully or even partially endorse the theological and
philosophical presuppositions of people who evince them (such as, for instance, Latin American Pentecostals, Muslim fundamentalists, or neo-Confucian businessmen).
In reading of his concern that evolution «is based not upon any incontrovertible empirical evidence, but upon a highly
controversial philosophical presupposition,» I am reminded of events in Paris that transpired in the early part of 1751, after publication of volume one of Buffon's Histoire Naturelle, which contained his Theory of the Earth.
This reference just made to
philosophical presuppositions identifies our thought with one type of Christian theology and cuts across the dominant tendency in the neo-orthodox movement, where philosophy is wholly rejected by theology as in Barth, or is given a merely peripheral role as in Brunner, and, to a lesser extent, in Richard Niebuhr and Reinhold Niebuhr.
As a result, the great figures in biblical scholarship leading up to the beginning of the 20th century have at the heart of their work
certain philosophical presuppositions born out of the Enlightenment:
Lawyers and law schools have a lot to do with this, particularly
with philosophical presuppositions and approaches which end up with novel ways of interpreting and redefining the Constitution.
The frenetic activity and noise that characterise western culture are a distraction because if we were really to accept
the philosophical presuppositions of our culture then we could not help but conclude with Betrand Russell's description of our plight.
Trinity and Truth argues that this package of
philosophical presuppositions is not the basis on which the credibility of Christian beliefs should be judged.
Theologians ought to be as self - conscious as possible concerning
the philosophical presuppositions which they use as they interpret the Christian faith.
Professor MacKinnon adds some further thoughts on Professor Lampe's position, and concludes the dialogue by briefly indicating
the philosophical presuppositions which affect his own thinking on these issues.
Mustafa Akyol (see left) makes a point that Faithmagazine would share with his Intelligent Designschool, whilst differing from the manner of proof and other conclusions,: ``... the idea that... evolution happened only via Darwinian mechanisms — and, especially, in a completely random way — seems to be
a philosophical presupposition, not an empirically established fact.»
; I think understanding
our philosophical presuppositions is important when addressing Christian Theology, but at the same time I think it's time Christian's stopped playing by culture's philosophical rules.
As a result, he turns his attention toward both hermeneutics and the deconstruction of
philosophical presuppositions.
Because of
its philosophical presuppositions, it can explain divine love in terms that are fully compatible with our human experience of love, and it can explain divine perfection in terms that correspond to our own experience of change and growth.
The philosophical presuppositions implied in these statements have come to be accepted with the same act of faith that affirms the reality of God and the importance of Jesus.
The historical - critical method is an essential and useful tool for the Catholic exegete when freed from
those philosophical presuppositions alien to the Bible and the Judeo - Christian religion.
This is an important and fruitful venture both for the Old and New Testaments, but when it is undertaken within a context formed by
the philosophical presuppositions outlined above, its dangers are evident.
This is
a philosophical presupposition that is not falsifiable and therefore not subject to scientific inquiry.