An Examination of President Edwards' Inquiry into the Freedom of the Will (eBook)

Albert Taylor Bledsoe (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2022
208 Seiten
DigiCat (Verlag)
859-654741114-7 (EAN)

Infos

In "An Examination of President Edwards' Inquiry into the Freedom of the Will," Albert Taylor Bledsoe rigorously critiques and expands upon Jonathan Edwards' complex exploration of free will and determinism. Bledsoe employs a methodical and analytical literary style that embodies the philosophical rigor characteristic of 19th-century American thought. His work engages deeply with theological and moral questions, navigating the intricate interplay between human autonomy and divine sovereignty. By situating Edwards' arguments within the broader context of Enlightenment philosophy, Bledsoe elucidates the tensions that arise in reconciling human choice with predestined divine providence. Albert Taylor Bledsoe, a prominent Southern intellectual and an influential figure in the 19th-century educational landscape, devoted much of his life to secular and theological matters. His background in both mathematics and philosophy likely informed his meticulous approach to Edwards' work. Bledsoe's own experiences with the socio-political currents of his time, particularly regarding issues of liberty and morality, compelled him to interrogate the foundational questions regarding human agency. This book is an essential read for scholars and students of philosophy, theology, and American history. Bledsoe's critical insights not only illuminate Edwards' original inquiry but also provoke ongoing discussions about free will that remain relevant in contemporary debates. Readers seeking to grasp the historical nuances of American thought will find this examination both enlightening and intellectually stimulating.

Autor

Albert Taylor Bledsoe (1809-1877) was an American scholar, polemicist, and theologian known for his ardent defense of the Southern cause and his contributions to the literature on free will and determinism. Born in Frankfort, Kentucky, Bledsoe graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and later served as an assistant professor of mathematics there. Though he began his career in the military, Bledsoe's interests ultimately veered towards the humanities, culminating in his foray into the ministry and academics. He held a professorship at the University of Mississippi before moving on to becoming a professor of mathematics at the University of Virginia. Bledsoe's reputation as an intellectual was greatly informed by his robust engagement with the philosophical and theological debates of his day, culminating in one of his most significant works, 'An Examination of President Edwards' Inquiry into the Freedom of the Will' (1845), in which he challenges the ideas of the New England theologian Jonathan Edwards. In a style characterized by its dialectical rigor and careful analysis, Bledsoe critiqued Edwards's determinism, advocating instead for the compatibility of free will and moral responsibility. His contributions to the discourse on free will persist as a window into the nineteenth-century American philosophical landscape and continue to draw the interest of scholars examining antebellum intellectual history.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 22.11.2022
• Verlagsort: Prague
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie
• Themenwelt: Geisteswissenschaften ► Religion / Theologie ► Christentum
• Schlagworte: 1703-1758 • 18th-century philosophy • 19th century thought • Albert Taylor Bledsoe works • American philosophical books • American Philosophy • Bledsoe scholarship • Calvinist theology • classical philosophical influences • determinism critique • Divine Grace • doctrinal theology • Edwards • Enlightenment era theology • Freedom of the will • Free Will and Determinism • free will debate • free will discourse • historical theology • human agency exploration • Intellectual history • Jonathan • Jonathan Edwards • Jonathan Edwards analysis • moral accountability analysis • philosophical debate • Philosophical literature • Philosophical theology • Predestination vs Free Will • Reformed theology • religious classics • Religious Philosophy • Scholastic Rigor • Theological critique • Theological Discourse