Philosophical Perspectives on Existential Gratitude: Analytic, Continental, and Religious

by Joshua Lee Harris (Editor), Kirk Lougheed (Editor), Neal DeRoo (Editor)

Overview

Existential gratitude-gratitude for one's very existence or life as a whole-is pervasive across the most influential human, cultural and religious traditions. Weaving together analytic and continental, as well as non-western and historical philosophical perspectives, this volume explores the nexus of gratitude, existence and God as an inter-subjective phenomenon for the first time.

A team of leading scholars introduce existential gratitude as a perennially and characteristically human phenomenon, central to the distinctive life of our species. Attention is given to the conditions under which existence itself might be construed as having a gift-like or otherwise gratitude-inducing character.

Drawing on a diversity of perspectives, chapters mark out new territory in philosophical inquiry, addressing whether and in what sense we ought to be grateful for our very existence. By analysing gratitude, this collection makes a novel contribution to the discourse on moral emotions, phenomenology, anti-natalism and theology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781350289147
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	03/23/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	200
File size:	454 KB

About the Author

Joshua Lee Harris is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at The King's University, Canada.

Kirk Lougheed is Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Center for Faith and Human Flourishing at LCC International University, Lithuania. He is also a Research Associate in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Pretoria, South Africa.

Neal DeRoo is Canada Research Chair in Phenomenology and Philosophy of Religion at The King's University, Canada.
Kirk Lougheed is Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Center for Faith and Human Flourishing at LCC International University, Lithuania. He is also a Research Associate in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles or book chapters appearing in such places as Philosophia, Ratio, Res Philosophica, and Synthese. He is author of The Epistemic Benefits of Disagreement (Springer, 2020), The Axiological Status of Theism and Other Worldviews (Palgrave 2020), and Ubuntu and Western Monotheism (Routledge, 2022).
Neal DeRoo is Canada Research Chair in Phenomenology and Philosophy of Religion at The King's University, Canada. He is the co-editor of Cross and Khôra: Deconstruction and Christianity in the work of John D. Caputo (Pickwick, 2009), Phenomenology and Eschatology: Not Yet in the Now (Ashgate, 2009), and The Logic of Incarnation: James K.A. Smith's Critique of Postmodern Religion (Pickwick, 2008).

Table of Contents

Introduction – Joshua Lee Harris (The King's University, Canada), Kirk Lougheed (LCC International University, Lithuania /University of Pretoria, South Africa) and Neal DeRoo (The King's University, Canada)

Part I. Gratitude in Human Life

1. Grounding Existential Gratitude: A Social Form Account – Joshua Harris (The King's University, Canada)
2. Gratitude and Resentment: A Tale of Two Weddings – Graham Oppy (Monash University, Australia)
3. Gratitude and the Human Vocation – Brian Treanor (Loyola Marymount University, USA)

Part II. Gratitude and Existence

4. Generous Existence? Gift, Giving, and Gratitude in Contemporary Phenomenology – Christina Gschwandter (Fordham University, USA)
5. Analogia Gratiae: Creation, Existence, and Gift in the Christian Metaphysics of Erich Przywara – Eric Mabry (St. Mary's Seminary and University, USA)
6. Gratitude for Life-Force in African Philosophy – Thaddeus Metz (University of Pretoria, South Africa)

Part III. Gratitude and the Divine

7. The Dilemma of Gratitude – Michael Almeida (University of Texas at San Antonio, USA)
8. Is Gratitude Necessary? Avicenna on Existential Dependence – Catherine Peters (Loyola Marymount University, USA)
9. Do we Owe Gratitude to God for Our Existence? – Kirk Lougheed (University of Pretoria, South Africa)
10. Thank You: William Desmond's Ethic of Gratitude and Personal God – Ethan Vanderleek (Marquette University, USA)

Index

Editorial Reviews

This fine anthology of original essays constitutes a significant contribution to the growing philosophical and theological literature on existential gratitude. The authors represent a diversity of traditions and viewpoints, showcasing the broad range of issues and interests that come into play when considering this important topic. It deserves a wide audience and a place on graduate reading lists.” —Travis Dumsday, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Concordia University of Edmonton, USA

“Philosophical Perspectives on Existential Gratitude: Analytic, Continental, and Religious brings together nine provocative essays about existential gratitude. They shed light on existential gratitude from a variety of thought-provoking philosophical perspectives. The essays were a real addition to the existing literature on existential gratitude in psychology and interesting to read.” —Lilian Jans-Beken, Independent Researcher, the Netherlands

“This is an excellent collection. It demonstrates that philosophy becomes exciting and thought-provoking when a fundamental issue, such as existential gratitude, is addressed by first-rate scholars with diverse perspectives.” —Yujin Nagasawa, H. G. Wood Professor of the Philosophy of Religion, University of Birmingham, UK

“This rich collection of essays addresses an important and wide-spread phenomenon: existential gratitude. This phenomenon has not been sufficiently explored by philosophers, so this volume is timely. The contributors discuss existential gratitude by engaging with a wide array of philosophical traditions, periods, perspectives, and thinkers.” —Klaas J. Kraay, Professor of Philosophy, Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada

From the Publisher