Experiments in Mystical Atheism
Godless Epiphanies from Daoism to Spinoza and Beyond
Published on 30. October 2024
Book
Hardback
416 pages
978-0-226-83132-9 (ISBN)
Description
A new approach to the theism-scientism divide rooted in a deeper form of atheism.
Western philosophy is stuck in an irresolvable conflict between two approaches to the spiritual malaise of our times: either we need more God (the "turn to religion") or less religion (the New Atheism). In this book, Brook Ziporyn proposes an alternative that avoids both totalizing theomania and atomizing reductionism. What we need, he argues, is a deeper, more thoroughgoing, even religious rejection of God: an affirmative atheism without either a creator to provide meaning or finite creatures in need of it-a mystical atheism.
In the legacies of Daoism and Buddhism as well as Spinoza, Nietzsche, and Bataille, Ziporyn discovers a critique of theism that develops into a new, positive sensibility-at once deeply atheist and richly religious. Experiments in Mystical Atheism argues that these "godless epiphanies" hold the key to renewing philosophy today.
Western philosophy is stuck in an irresolvable conflict between two approaches to the spiritual malaise of our times: either we need more God (the "turn to religion") or less religion (the New Atheism). In this book, Brook Ziporyn proposes an alternative that avoids both totalizing theomania and atomizing reductionism. What we need, he argues, is a deeper, more thoroughgoing, even religious rejection of God: an affirmative atheism without either a creator to provide meaning or finite creatures in need of it-a mystical atheism.
In the legacies of Daoism and Buddhism as well as Spinoza, Nietzsche, and Bataille, Ziporyn discovers a critique of theism that develops into a new, positive sensibility-at once deeply atheist and richly religious. Experiments in Mystical Atheism argues that these "godless epiphanies" hold the key to renewing philosophy today.
Reviews / Votes
"Experiments in Mystical Atheism is a brilliant and challenging meditation on and critique of monotheism. In it, Ziporyn demonstrates how those of us without the 'God gene' need not suffer a lack of spiritual depth or meaning. This book is an impressive example of how Chinese dialogue with Western thought can contribute to a mature religious worldview." -- Joseph A. Adler, Kenyon College "This provocative manifesto is written for the 'mystically minded but God-intolerant.' In abandoning the idea of a transcendent Person who provides our lives with purpose, Ziporyn articulates an 'atheistic mysticism' that reconciles the finite with the infinite and that promises to be as liberating as it is demanding." -- Bret W. Davis, Loyola University Maryland "In his hair-raising and ambitious case against God, Ziporyn avoids tired atheist arguments. Instead, heart on his sleeve, he seeks to show that God, as a concept, is the antithesis of exuberant meaning, sublime experience, and expansive love. Thoreau once said that true philosophers had been replaced by professors of philosophy; Ziporyn is here to prove him wrong." -- Alan Levinovitz, James Madison University "A rare foundational and beautiful book, Experiments in Mystical Atheism presents an alternative to the master narratives of sovereignty that still dominate contemporary thought. Rather than a crude rehash of 'rational' or moral argument, Ziporyn's deep atheism builds on Daoism, Buddhism, Spinoza, and Nietzsche to unfold the utter contingency and purposelessness of existence." -- Hans-Georg Moeller, University of MacauMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Chicago
United States
Publishing group
The University of Chicago Press
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
739 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-226-83132-9 (9780226831329)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Brook Ziporyn is the Mircea Eliade Professor of Chinese Religion, Philosophy, and Comparative Thought in the Divinity School at the University of Chicago. He is the author and translator of many books, most recently Daodejing.
Content
Preface
Introduction
The Weird Idea
God as Default?
Preaching to the Choir
Let's Assume a Brain Tumor: Futile Attacks on Monotheistic Faith
Atheism Postmonotheist and Nonmonotheist: Against and after Nancy
Religious Innovation as Backfiring Detheology
Atheism as Uberpiety
Part I: The Sleeping Island
Chapter 1: Purposivity and Consciousness
Nous as Arche: Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
Design versus Infinity: Two Rival Explanations for the Intricacy of Existence
Intelligible Good/s versus Infinite W/hole/s in Plato's Symposium
The Hypertrophy of Purposive Consciousness: Animism Gone Wild
Chapter 2: Purposivity and Dichotomy
The Purpose-Driven Life? No Thanks!
The Great Asymmetry: Purpose Obstructs Purposelessness, but Purposelessness Enables Purposes
The Great Asymmetry Redux, Mutatis Mutandis: Chaos as Enabler and Encompasser of Order
Daodejing: The Discovery of the Opposite of God
The Moral Hazard of Moral Ideals
Chapter 3: Purposivity and Personhood
What Is a "Person"? Control versus Necessity and the Dichotomization of Oneness and Difference
Rethinking Personhood as Nonultimate
Love contra the Ultimacy of Personhood
God beyond Personhood? No, Not Really
Chapter 4: Purposivity and Finitude
Tool, Control, Purpose, Thinghood: Bataille on God as Failed Religion
Schopenhauer on the Suspension of the Principle of Sufficient Reason: How the Halfway Measure of "God" Obstructs the Absolute (or, Three out of Four Ain't Bad)
Toward the Synonymity of Conditionality and Unconditionality: Two Alternate Models of Omnipresence, Theistic and Atheistic
Recap and Gameplan
Part II: Varieties of Atheist Beatitude
Chapter 5: Spinoza, or Intoxicating Sobriety
The Theological Proof of God's Nonexistence
Spinoza in Twelve Steps
The Nonthing, the Only Thing, Everywhere, Eternally
Truth as Adequacy as Moretoitivity
The Big Rethink: Body, Mind, Cause, and Purpose
Not Merely Parts of the Whole: How the Temporary Finite Mode I Am Is Also Eternal and Infinite
Finitude as the Intersection of Two Infinities
Beatific Vision, Spinoza Style
Spinoza and Schopenhauer on the Universal Will as Unreason, Reason, and Both
Chapter 6: Nietzsche, or the Divinely Vicious Circle
Why Nietzsche Thought So Highly of This Wacko Idea
Proof in the Pudding
The Same Life Again Makes No Difference If Truly the Same
The Absolute Affirmation of Anything Is the Affirmation of Absolutely Everything
Chapter 7: Bataille, or Fuckin' Chaos
Godlessness as Liberation from Both Spirit and Matter and Several Versions of What Remains
Beyond Will to Power as Will to Control: Squandering through the Gordian Knot of Purpose
The Practice of Joy before Death
Conclusion: Meaningfulness Revisited: Styles of Suffering, Sublimity, and Beatific Vision, Theistic and Atheistic
Acknowledgments
Appendixes
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Introduction
The Weird Idea
God as Default?
Preaching to the Choir
Let's Assume a Brain Tumor: Futile Attacks on Monotheistic Faith
Atheism Postmonotheist and Nonmonotheist: Against and after Nancy
Religious Innovation as Backfiring Detheology
Atheism as Uberpiety
Part I: The Sleeping Island
Chapter 1: Purposivity and Consciousness
Nous as Arche: Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
Design versus Infinity: Two Rival Explanations for the Intricacy of Existence
Intelligible Good/s versus Infinite W/hole/s in Plato's Symposium
The Hypertrophy of Purposive Consciousness: Animism Gone Wild
Chapter 2: Purposivity and Dichotomy
The Purpose-Driven Life? No Thanks!
The Great Asymmetry: Purpose Obstructs Purposelessness, but Purposelessness Enables Purposes
The Great Asymmetry Redux, Mutatis Mutandis: Chaos as Enabler and Encompasser of Order
Daodejing: The Discovery of the Opposite of God
The Moral Hazard of Moral Ideals
Chapter 3: Purposivity and Personhood
What Is a "Person"? Control versus Necessity and the Dichotomization of Oneness and Difference
Rethinking Personhood as Nonultimate
Love contra the Ultimacy of Personhood
God beyond Personhood? No, Not Really
Chapter 4: Purposivity and Finitude
Tool, Control, Purpose, Thinghood: Bataille on God as Failed Religion
Schopenhauer on the Suspension of the Principle of Sufficient Reason: How the Halfway Measure of "God" Obstructs the Absolute (or, Three out of Four Ain't Bad)
Toward the Synonymity of Conditionality and Unconditionality: Two Alternate Models of Omnipresence, Theistic and Atheistic
Recap and Gameplan
Part II: Varieties of Atheist Beatitude
Chapter 5: Spinoza, or Intoxicating Sobriety
The Theological Proof of God's Nonexistence
Spinoza in Twelve Steps
The Nonthing, the Only Thing, Everywhere, Eternally
Truth as Adequacy as Moretoitivity
The Big Rethink: Body, Mind, Cause, and Purpose
Not Merely Parts of the Whole: How the Temporary Finite Mode I Am Is Also Eternal and Infinite
Finitude as the Intersection of Two Infinities
Beatific Vision, Spinoza Style
Spinoza and Schopenhauer on the Universal Will as Unreason, Reason, and Both
Chapter 6: Nietzsche, or the Divinely Vicious Circle
Why Nietzsche Thought So Highly of This Wacko Idea
Proof in the Pudding
The Same Life Again Makes No Difference If Truly the Same
The Absolute Affirmation of Anything Is the Affirmation of Absolutely Everything
Chapter 7: Bataille, or Fuckin' Chaos
Godlessness as Liberation from Both Spirit and Matter and Several Versions of What Remains
Beyond Will to Power as Will to Control: Squandering through the Gordian Knot of Purpose
The Practice of Joy before Death
Conclusion: Meaningfulness Revisited: Styles of Suffering, Sublimity, and Beatific Vision, Theistic and Atheistic
Acknowledgments
Appendixes
Notes
Bibliography
Index