Contemplating Religious Forms of Life ─ Wittgenstein and D.Z. Phillips

Burley (religion and philosophy, U. of Leeds) presents a comparative examination of Ludwig Wittgenstein and Dewi Zephaniah Phillips, focusing on their work about religious forms of life. Chapters are relatively self contained and in addition to elucidating their ideas, attempt to show their ongoing relevance for the study of religion. Chapters are organized into two sections, one for each philosopher. In the first, Burley considers how Wittgenstein saw religion as emerging from the relatively instinctual rather than fully intentional aspects of our human nature, the illusion of absolute safety, and the viability of Wittgenstein's conception of religion in the face of criticisms by Severin Schroeder. In part two he explores going beyond realism and non-realism in Phillip's study of religion, Phillips treatment of the belief in immortality, and the use of literature in the philosophy of literature. A final chapter presents several conclusions, including a challenge to the supposition that Wittgenstein and Phillips attempt "to reduce [religious] beliefs to expressions of attitudes that could in principle be characterized in entirely non-religious terms." Annotation c2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Mikel Burley is Lecturer in Religion and Philosophy at the University of Leeds, UK. His previous publications include two books on Indian philosophy, and articles on, among other things, philosophy of religion, ethics, literature, and reincarnation.