Shared intentionality and divine persons : explorations in empirical psychology and ramified natural theology
Abstract
This article explores the intersection of two developing fields of study: the psychological field of shared intentionality and the philosophy of religion field of ramified natural theology. In shared intentionality, agents share mental states and cooperate to achieve a common goal. Many psychologists in this field believe that of all the primates, only humans share intentionality – humans alone form a ‘we’. Ramified natural theology is the project of presenting philosophical evidences for core doctrines of the Christian faith. In this article I investigate some applications of shared intentionality for Christian natural theology. In the Anselmian tradition I offer two deductive arguments that deploy shared intentionality to argue that there are multiple divine persons. I then suggest that analogical arguments – often overlooked by philosophers of religion – provide a better fit for psychological findings, such as shared intentionality. After sketching some fundamental features of analogical arguments, I advance two arguments by analogy for the conclusion that God, like humans, shares intentionality. These arguments show that the psychology of shared intentionality, and empirical psychology more generally, is a promising source for theological reflection.
Citation
Bray , D 2023 , ' Shared intentionality and divine persons : explorations in empirical psychology and ramified natural theology ' , Religious Studies , vol. FirstView . https://doi.org/10.1017/S0034412523000781
Publication
Religious Studies
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0034-4125Type
Journal article
Description
Funding: This article is the result of a John Templeton Foundation fellowship for cross-training in the empirical sciences, awarded by the Society of Christian Philosophers.Collections
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