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Beyond Babel: Religion and Linguistic Pluralism

  • Book
  • © 2023

Overview

Editors:
  1. Andrea Vestrucci

    1. AI Systems Engineering, University of Bamberg, Bamberg, Germany

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  • Addresses the interconnection of the pluralism of religions and the multitude of languages
  • Applies Artificial Intelligence to religion and presents the impacts of digital media on religious language
  • Contributions from renowned scholars interconnecting religion and linguistic pluralism

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About this book

This volume is the first attempt to investigate explicitly how the multiplicity of religions and forms of spirituality interconnect with the pluralism of languages, including scientific codes, formal languages, and artistic expressions. In a journey “beyond Babel”, the volume explores how religious and linguistic pluralisms enter into polyphonic relations, how they co-evolve and grow together, and why they clash. 


This text provides the setting for a dialogue on a rich variety of religious languages and traditions, including Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Jainism, and Christianity. The chapters explore how these traditions can venture into new interreligious paths, how sacred meanings translate into vernacular speeches, how religious identities and scientific notions interacts, what role emotional expressions play in interfaith encounters, and the impact of Artificial Intelligence on beliefs.


The book is authored by esteemed senior scholars, established researchers, and exceptional junior doctorate holders whose expertise spans across religious studies, the history of science, philosophy, fine arts, theology, linguistics, computer science, and legal studies. This volume contributes to interfaith studies and teaching, to sociology and philosophy of religion, and to the history and anthropology of religion and the sacred arts. It is intended to reach students, researchers, instructors, and professionals alike.

Keywords

Table of contents (22 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xiii
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  2. A Journey Beyond Babel

    • Andrea Vestrucci
    Pages 1-12

  3. Religious Limits of Language

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 13-13
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    2. Divine Language

      • Graham Oppy
      Pages 15-24

    3. Language Without a Code: Islamic Geometry and Modernity

      • Wendy M. K. Shaw
      Pages 25-48

    4. At the Foot of Babel: Disclosure and Concealment

      • Ted Peters
      Pages 49-57

    5. Ineffability: Its Origins and Problems

      • Fr. Anselm Ramelow
      Pages 59-75

    6. Would We Speak If We Did Not Have to Die?

      • Hans-Christoph Askani
      Pages 77-86

  4. Interreligious and Interlinguistic Encounters

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 87-87
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    2. Interreligious Empathy and Linguistic Plurality

      • Catherine Cornille
      Pages 89-103

    3. A Śākta Theory on Religions in a Linguistic Pluralism

      • Pravina Rodrigues
      Pages 105-120

    4. On the Power of Imperfect Words: An Inquiry into the Revelatory Power of a Single Hindu Verse

      • Francis X. Clooney
      Pages 121-132

    5. On the Oscillation Model and Its Logic

      • Stanisław Krajewski
      Pages 133-145

  6. Scientific Codes and Religious Meanings

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 213-213
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    2. Gersonides – Translating Divinity Within the Limits of Knowledge

      • Snezana Lawrence
      Pages 215-226
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Editors and Affiliations

  • AI Systems Engineering, University of Bamberg, Bamberg, Germany

    Andrea Vestrucci

About the editor

Andrea Vestrucci teaches and conducts research for the Department of Applied Computer Science at the University of Bamberg, Germany (Chair of AI Systems Engineering). He is also a Research Professor at Starr King School, Oakland, CA, and a Privat-Dozent at the University of Geneva. He dovetails the philosophical and computational approaches to Artificial Intelligence by exploring metaphysical arguments and cognitive models in automated reasoning environments. He focuses on ethical issues raised by intelligent systems in interaction with groups and communities’ values and decision-making processes. Formerly Professor at the Federal University of Ceará, Brazil, and Researcher at UC Berkeley (Consortium for Interdisciplinary Research), he is the recipient of the Australian Award, and a laureate of the Academic Society of Geneva.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: Beyond Babel: Religion and Linguistic Pluralism

  • Editors: Andrea Vestrucci

  • Series Title: Sophia Studies in Cross-cultural Philosophy of Traditions and Cultures

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-42127-3

  • Publisher: Springer Cham

  • eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)

  • Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-031-42126-6Published: 01 November 2023

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-3-031-42129-7Due: 20 November 2023

  • eBook ISBN: 978-3-031-42127-3Published: 31 October 2023

  • Series ISSN: 2211-1107

  • Series E-ISSN: 2211-1115

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: XIII, 347

  • Number of Illustrations: 23 b/w illustrations, 4 illustrations in colour

  • Topics: Philosophy of Religion, Comparative Religion

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