Journal of Philosophy and Theology

Richard Kearney’s Concept of the Possible God in the Perspective of Antinomic Reinterpretation
Filip H. Härtel

Abstract
This article offers an antinomic reinterpretation of Kearney’s concept of the possible God through a systematic analysis of its principles, which are so-called double identity and via tertia. Firstly, I briefly summarize the main themes of Kearney’s concept, represented by his seeking of middle ways between different one-sided antipoles (theism and atheism, metaphysics and negative theology, etc.). Secondly, I discuss the main antinomies following from via tertia: 1) God’s and man’s desire, 2) God’s strength based on his weakness, 3) a kenotic theology of the cross coming from the concept of the weak God, and 4) the call for hospitality as an ethical consequence of the previous point. Thirdly, I concentrate on the weaknesses and inconsistencies of a such approach, and finally, I try to show that antinomic thinking enables us to solve these problems and even bring Kearney’s concept closer to his original intentions. In conclusion, I briefly offer several possibilities of further developing these themes.

Full Text: PDF     DOI: 10.15640/ijpt.v8n2a1