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The Search for Truth on the Path of Reason
Prof. Osipov discusses the central questions of man's existence through science, philosophy, and religion.
- GenresChristianityPhilosophy
263 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Алексей Осипов
15 books6 followersОсипов Алексей Ильич - русский православный богослов, педагог и публицист, доктор богословия honoris causa. Заслуженный профессор Московской духовной академии, апологет, проповедник, видный православный катехизатор современности
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 25, 2023
Dr Aleksei I Osipov’s book, The Search for Truth on the Path of Reason, has become one of my favourite books on applied Orthodox theology in modern times for several reasons.
First, he showcases the ways of Western philosophy going back to Leibniz and Spinoza (but also including figures like Kant, Hegel and Schleiermacher). In each case, he shows how these philosophers’ conceptions of God differed—sometimes in subtle ways, sometimes in ways not so subtle—from the Christian witness to the Incarnation and its ramifications for how we should relate to God. The ‘search for truth on the path of reason’ is one which cannot be brought to a successful completion in itself, because the reason is darkened to the incomprehensible reality of God… and yet, as he shows with several examples, those who follow on that path may come to realise that the end of their journey lies along a different one.
The second noteworthy point is the deft and penetrating critique of scientism he provides. While he acknowledges the remarkable achievements and advances of knowledge that have come from the natural sciences, Dr Osipov nonetheless openly scorns the idea that science is at odds with religion (noting that the vast majority of scientists throughout history have been religious), and also shows that the attempts to make a comprehensive doctrine out of science—bear in mind he was writing this at le nouvel athéisme ’s peak of popularity, in 2009—are woefully misguided and ill-fated...
Lastly (but not least) is his critique of religion. Dr Osipov identifies several strands within religious life which are deserving of critique: paganism, mysticism and immanentism (though he doesn’t use this last word himself). Paganism, which in his view is the identification of the supreme reality with the experience of a particular race or nation of people, he cites as spiritually harmful because it leads to various forms of pride and a rush after ‘food and shows’. Mysticism, a term by which Osipov comprehends a number of different strands of religious experience from the Dharmic religions to some forms of Protestant Christianity, places the locus of religious striving on the sensory experience of the believer...
Read the full review here.
First, he showcases the ways of Western philosophy going back to Leibniz and Spinoza (but also including figures like Kant, Hegel and Schleiermacher). In each case, he shows how these philosophers’ conceptions of God differed—sometimes in subtle ways, sometimes in ways not so subtle—from the Christian witness to the Incarnation and its ramifications for how we should relate to God. The ‘search for truth on the path of reason’ is one which cannot be brought to a successful completion in itself, because the reason is darkened to the incomprehensible reality of God… and yet, as he shows with several examples, those who follow on that path may come to realise that the end of their journey lies along a different one.
The second noteworthy point is the deft and penetrating critique of scientism he provides. While he acknowledges the remarkable achievements and advances of knowledge that have come from the natural sciences, Dr Osipov nonetheless openly scorns the idea that science is at odds with religion (noting that the vast majority of scientists throughout history have been religious), and also shows that the attempts to make a comprehensive doctrine out of science—bear in mind he was writing this at le nouvel athéisme ’s peak of popularity, in 2009—are woefully misguided and ill-fated...
Lastly (but not least) is his critique of religion. Dr Osipov identifies several strands within religious life which are deserving of critique: paganism, mysticism and immanentism (though he doesn’t use this last word himself). Paganism, which in his view is the identification of the supreme reality with the experience of a particular race or nation of people, he cites as spiritually harmful because it leads to various forms of pride and a rush after ‘food and shows’. Mysticism, a term by which Osipov comprehends a number of different strands of religious experience from the Dharmic religions to some forms of Protestant Christianity, places the locus of religious striving on the sensory experience of the believer...
Read the full review here.
October 22, 2019
К сожалению, я не понял, для кого и с какой целью написана эта книга.
Язык книги сухой, безжизненный, местами напоминающий советские учебники по философии или советский же научпоп, местами - лекции для студентов философского факультета. Если книга для обычных людей, а не для студентов, то она ужасна и поверхностна. Если она для студентов, то она также ужасна и поверхностна.
Постоянные перечисления имен и цитаты, как будто вставленные в книгу ради галочки. Аргументы бытия Бога изложены кратко, так кратко и так невнятно, что лучше бы и не излагались. Стиль книги - каша из фактов, рассуждений, имен и цитат.
Язык книги сухой, безжизненный, местами напоминающий советские учебники по философии или советский же научпоп, местами - лекции для студентов философского факультета. Если книга для обычных людей, а не для студентов, то она ужасна и поверхностна. Если она для студентов, то она также ужасна и поверхностна.
Постоянные перечисления имен и цитаты, как будто вставленные в книгу ради галочки. Аргументы бытия Бога изложены кратко, так кратко и так невнятно, что лучше бы и не излагались. Стиль книги - каша из фактов, рассуждений, имен и цитат.
February 27, 2019
Качественная книга, излагающая для неискушенного читателя главные идеи, на которых стоит современное православное основное богословие и апологетика. Книга написана понятным языком. Также сочинение необычайно богато ссылочным материалом: много библейских и святоотеческих цитат, ссылок на светских авторов.
August 5, 2020
Замысел книги хороший, но реализация не соответствует современным реалиям. Касается это прежде всего устаревшего языка, которым написана данная книга. Если целевая аудитория - люди старшего поколения, то всё ОК, но всё же книга расчитана на молодежь.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews