Panel: DISCERNING DIVINE PRESENCE: IN DIFFERENCE



12.5 - WHAT CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS MAY TEACH US: A COMPARISON OF 'BEAUTIFUL', RIGHT' AND 'SACRED'

AUTHORS:
Van Willigenburg T. (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam ~ Amsterdam ~ Netherlands)
Text:
A conceptual analysis of religious concepts (being in a sacred realm, hearing a divine voice, having a holy calling) shows that they have three characteristics in common with aesthetic concepts (something being beautiful or ugly) and moral concepts (an act being right or a person admirable). 1. Internalism: there is an internal connection between these concepts and what we experience and are motivated to: finding something bad involves disapproving it; entering a sacred realm involves feeling awe, taking an attitude of respect. 2. Normativity: these concepts can be used correctly and incorrectly. 3. Response-dependence: the objectivity of judgements concerning the properties referred to is dependent on typical human sensitivities and concerns (compare secondary-qualities like colors). The paper will especially explore whether or not characteristic 3 implies that the divine/sacred is only real for people with religious sensibilities or dispositions.