Philosophy in The Books Store

In an increasingly precarious global situation, and in light of the postmodern emphasis on difference, efforts to grasp the "whole" as something universally shared by all human beings have fallen short, according to Thomas E. Reynolds. In this book, he explores the philosophical and theological significance of the problem of pluralism and asserts that the shared resources of the world's religious traditions can be used to cultivate peace and solidarity across diverse boundaries. He engages a range of philosophical thinkers—such as Gadamer, Marcel, Rorty, Foucault, Levinas, Derrida, and Habermas—and brings them into conversation with contemporary theologians and writers in religious studies. Presenting a vision of solidarity that is both religiously charged and philosophically astute, The Broken Whole outlines an inventive approach toward retrieving the relevance of God-talk, an approach rooted in a philosophy of dialogue and cross-cultural hospitality.

"The writing is subtle and nuanced, the arguments are well conceived and worked through, and the conclusions are reasonable and balanced. This book is a remarkable achievement which helps to redirect inquiry and reopen more realistic theological questions that have been largely excluded from the discussion." — John B. Cobb, author of Postmodernism and Public Policy: Reframing Religion, Culture, Education, Sexuality, Class, Race, Politics, and the Economy