現代性轉向後現代性中的神學意涵

The Theological Significance of the Shift from Modernity to Post-Modernity

莊信德(ZHUANG Xin-De)

《道風：基督教文化評論》 24期 (2006/01) Pp. 193-216

並列摘要

In a sense, the Enlightenment began with Kant like the Copernican Revolution and ended with Nietzsche who was equally revolutionary. It is both a critique and a hermeneutical evaluation of Western metaphysics. For -Kant, Enlightenment reasoning was meant to be the most critical opposition to religious rule. Thus, ＂reason＂ would replace ＂faith ＂, while the ＂critical spirit＂ ＂superstition＂. Following the desire of Enlightenment to labour for a rationalization of the world, a modern epistemology was established, which was to attempt, through ＂reason＂, a series of qualitative descriptions about the external world. Based on this epistemology, and via the critical assessment of Nietzsche's existentialism, an era of non-foundation came into being, which is what is termed the ＂postmodem＂ period. The first section of this paper attempts to discuss the formation of the concept of ＂modernity＂, through the beginning of Enlightenment reasoning - Kant. Moreover, without following strictly the chronological order (first discussing Foucault, then Adorno), this paper will discuss the work of Michel Foucault, ＂What is Enlightenment?＂, as a response to Kant's Enlightenment discourse. This is the section two of this paper which, through the critique by Foucault of the meta-narrative that resulted from the Enlightenment reasoning, seeks to discover the key necessary in the deconstruction of the controlling power of Enlightenment. The third section will enter into the realm of the ＂postmodern＂, via Adorno's critique of the Enlightenment. Through the discussions of the above three philosophers' opinions and criticisms of the Enlightenment reasoning, this paper will attempt to carefully consider what significant contributions these might have for theological discourse.