Beyond Modernity: Maritain's Critique of the Modern World (Tongji·German Culture Series)

Author: Xu Weixiang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: This book conducts a systematic study of the philosophical thought of Jacques Maritain, a representative figure of the 20th-century Western philosophical school of Neo-Thomism. It primarily focuses on his critiques of the modern world from various levels, revealing his critical stance toward modernity. Given that Neo-Thomism is rooted in Aristotle and refined by Thomas Aquinas, inheriting a 2,000-year-old metaphysical tradition, Chinese readers are often unfamiliar with this tradition. The book first provides a comprehensive overview of the metaphysics of this school, laying the groundwork for the subsequent chapters. Moreover, Maritain's critique of the modern world is closely tied to his Catholic historical philosophy, with its core idea being the principle of spiritual primacy. Maritain's critique of the modern spirit primarily revolves around three modern thinkers: Luther, Descartes, and Rousseau. He argues that their naturalistic attitudes toward religion, reason, and emotion are responsible for the disorder of modern spirit. Finally, the book explores Maritain's thoughts on the social and political level.