Wittgenstein and the Cognitive Science of Religion: Interpreting Human Nature and the Mind

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Advancing our understanding of one of the most influential 20th-century philosophers, Robert Vinten brings together an international line up of scholars to consider the relevance of Ludwig Wittgensteins ideas to the cognitive science of religion. Wittgenstein's claims ranged from the rejection of the idea that psychology is a 'young science' in comparison to physics to challenges to scientistic and intellectualist accounts of religion in the work of past anthropologists. Chapters explore whether these remarks about psychology and religion undermine the frameworks and practices of cognitive scientists of religion. Employing philosophical tools as well as drawing on case studies, contributions not only illuminate psychological experiments, anthropological observations and neurophysiological research relevant to understanding religious phenomena, they allow cognitive scientists to either heed or clarify their position in relation to Wittgensteins objections. By developing and responding to his criticisms, Wittgenstein and the Cognitive Science of Religion offers novel perspectives on his philosophy in relation to religion, human nature, and the mind.

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Wittgenstein and the Cognitive Science of Religion fills a gap in the literature exploring in illuminating and provocative ways how Wittgensteins thought can be profitably used in the emerging field of cognitive science of religion. * Nuno Venturinha, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, NOVA University of Lisbon, Portugal *
This collection of essays, edited by Robert Vinten, explores naturalism as an approach to religion, thus continuing the path of Hume or Freud. Its originality lies in not taking naturalism for granted, rather seeing it under the critical light of Wittgenstein. * Sofia Miguens, Professor of Philosophy, University of Porto, Portugal *

Author Bio

Robert Vinten was formerly the postdoctoral research fellow in the project Epistemology of Religious Belief: Wittgenstein, Grammar and the Contemporary World at Universidade Nova, Portugal. He is currently commencing a new project concerning epistemic injustice.