Mary Astell on Neighborly Love
In discussing the obligation to love everyone, Mary Astell (1666–1731) recognizes and responds to what I call the theocentric challenge: if humans are required to love God entirely, then they cannot fulfill the second requirement to love their neighbor. In exploring how Astell responds to this chall...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-05-01
|
| Series: | Religions |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/6/475 |
| _version_ | 1797482873111969792 |
|---|---|
| author | Timothy Yenter |
| author_facet | Timothy Yenter |
| author_sort | Timothy Yenter |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In discussing the obligation to love everyone, Mary Astell (1666–1731) recognizes and responds to what I call the theocentric challenge: if humans are required to love God entirely, then they cannot fulfill the second requirement to love their neighbor. In exploring how Astell responds to this challenge, I argue that Astell is an astute metaphysician who does not endorse the metaphysical views she praises. This viewpoint helps us to understand the complicated relationship between her views and those of Descartes, Malebranche, Henry More, and John Norris, as well as her sophisticated approach to biblical interpretation and theology. Attending to theocentrism opens up new avenues of research in the study of early modern philosophy. It also helps us to see connections between Astell and other theocentric philosophers such as Spinoza and Anne Conway. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:38:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8003d6d4b841409e822a018429f92a33 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T22:38:46Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-8003d6d4b841409e822a018429f92a332023-11-23T18:44:12ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442022-05-0113647510.3390/rel13060475Mary Astell on Neighborly LoveTimothy Yenter0Department of Philosophy and Religion, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USAIn discussing the obligation to love everyone, Mary Astell (1666–1731) recognizes and responds to what I call the theocentric challenge: if humans are required to love God entirely, then they cannot fulfill the second requirement to love their neighbor. In exploring how Astell responds to this challenge, I argue that Astell is an astute metaphysician who does not endorse the metaphysical views she praises. This viewpoint helps us to understand the complicated relationship between her views and those of Descartes, Malebranche, Henry More, and John Norris, as well as her sophisticated approach to biblical interpretation and theology. Attending to theocentrism opens up new avenues of research in the study of early modern philosophy. It also helps us to see connections between Astell and other theocentric philosophers such as Spinoza and Anne Conway.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/6/475Mary AstellJohn Norristheocentrismegocentrismbenevolenceoccasionalism |
| spellingShingle | Timothy Yenter Mary Astell on Neighborly Love Religions Mary Astell John Norris theocentrism egocentrism benevolence occasionalism |
| title | Mary Astell on Neighborly Love |
| title_full | Mary Astell on Neighborly Love |
| title_fullStr | Mary Astell on Neighborly Love |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mary Astell on Neighborly Love |
| title_short | Mary Astell on Neighborly Love |
| title_sort | mary astell on neighborly love |
| topic | Mary Astell John Norris theocentrism egocentrism benevolence occasionalism |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/6/475 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT timothyyenter maryastellonneighborlylove |