Philosophical and theological methodology of D. B. Hart

Urgency of the research. David Bentley Hart's theology is a notable phenomenon in modern Orthodox theology. This American theologian has joined the cohort of original Christian thinkers who offer new ways of theological development, set unexpected dimensions for understanding God, tradition, human. He freely and skillfully conducts a dialogue with all known philosophers of the Christian tradition and its main opponents. The novelty and paradoxical clarity of Hart's views makes his ideas of interest for study.

Target setting. The study of the theoretical foundations of the Hart’s concept needs the special attention. It is worth to consider in detail the main aspects of the philosophical and theological methodology of D. Hart.

Actual scientific researches and issues analysis. The works of D. Hart have already become the subject of analysis in the works of V. Hrytsyshyn, S. Konacheva, G. Khrystokin, Y. Chorno-morets, and V. Shalar. In the post-soviet space, O. Davydov creatively develops the methodology and ideas of D. Hart. The above works analyze the theological innovation of D. Hart, his development of post-metaphysical Orthodox theology of the postmodern era, demonstrate non-standard and original approaches and theological statements of this thinker.

The research objective. In the proposed study, we should consider Hart’s thinking in the context of postmodern discourse; problems of interaction of philosophy and theology at this theologian; ideological influences and polemical context of his work; features of speculative-narrative hermeneutics of D. Hart’s texts; historical and philosophical specifics of his theology. All this together will give us an opportunity to comprehend the principles of philosophical and theological methodology of D. Hart, which in turn will open the deep foundations and prospects for the development of modern Orthodox theology.

The statement of basic materials. Philosophy for Hart, is a continuation of theology in another way, it is a self-denial of theology, which is carried out by the European tradition to find itself. All philosophy and all its problems are a search for solutions to theological problems. For Hart, as for Balthazar, theology is thinking about being and its properties. The task of the thinker is to create a theological language, an alternative to the rhetoric of postmodernism. Theology is a language that is both a theory and a discourse. Hart’s theological reflections combine the hermeneutics of texts with metaphysical reflections on meanings that make sense of a religious narrative. Hart tries to overcome metaphysics in theology, wants to think after metaphysics, to create theology after "after the death of God".

Conclusions. The methodology of D. Hart’s post-metaphysical theology is considered in this work. The author came to the conclusion that Hart creatively rethinks the achievements of post-metaphysical philosophy and Christian theology, which are inseparable for him. He creates a theological language alternative to the rhetoric of postmodernism. Hart creates the most open, ecumenical theology, overcoming the metaphysical paradigm of which is carried out through the introduction of the category of beauty. His theoesthetics is based on the principle of analogy, as the main method of knowing God.

Keywords: theology, philosophy, methodology of theology, postmodern, post-metaphysical theology, modern Orthodox theology.

 

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