Apocalypse without God

Apocalyptic Thought, Ideal Politics, and the Limits of Utopian Hope

Häftad, Engelska, 2025

Av Ben Jones, Ben (Pennsylvania State University) Jones

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Apocalypse, it seems, is everywhere. Preachers with vast followings proclaim the world's end. Apocalyptic fears grip even the nonreligious amid climate change, pandemics, and threats of nuclear war. As these ideas pervade popular discourse, grasping their logic remains elusive. Ben Jones argues that we can gain insight into apocalyptic thought through secular thinkers. He starts with a puzzle: Why would secular thinkers draw on Christian apocalyptic beliefs - often dismissed as bizarre - to interpret politics? The apocalyptic tradition proves appealing in part because it theorizes a relation between crisis and utopia. Apocalyptic thought points to crisis as the vehicle to bring the previously impossible within reach, offering resources for navigating challenges in ideal theory, which involves imagining the best, most just society. By examining apocalyptic thought's appeal and risks, this study arrives at new insights on the limits of utopian hope. This title is available as open access on Cambridge Core.

Produktinformation

Utgivningsdatum2025-05-08
Mått220 x 10 x 140 mm
Vikt188 g
FormatHäftad
SpråkEngelska
Antal sidor239
FörlagCambridge University Press
ISBN9781009017039

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Introduction; Part I. Secular Apocalyptic Thought: 1. The hazards of studying secular apocalyptic thought; 2. The paradox of secular apocalyptic thought; Part II. Historical Case Studies: 3. Apocalyptic hope's appeal: Machiavelli and Savonarola; 4. Tempering apocalyptic ideals: Hobbes and pretenders to God's kingdom; 5. Reimagining God's kingdom: Engels and Müntzer; Part III. Implications for Ideal Theory: 6. Ideal theory as faith; 7. Limiting the dangers of Utopian hope; Conclusion; Appendix: Argument against ideal theory's plausibility; Bibliography.

'An important theme of several strands of political and theological reflection is that the line between religious thought and secular political thought is not bright. In many respects, secular political traditions draw heavily on religious ideas, often without realizing it. But by itself this thesis is familiar, glib, and often poorly defended. Apocalypse without God is anything but. The book is original, rich, and reflective. It carefully traces the idea of secular apocalyptic thought in important thinkers and ends with a critique of contemporary ideal theory along similar lines. Ben Jones not only reframes secular political theories from the past, but how much political philosophy operates today.' Kevin Vallier, Bowling Green State University and author of Trust in a Polarized Age