John Milbank
Encyclopedia
Alasdair John Milbank is a Christian theologian and the Professor of Religion, Politics and Ethics at the University of Nottingham
where he also directs the Centre of Theology and Philosophy. Milbank previously taught at the University of Virginia
and before that at the University of Cambridge
. He is also Chairman of the trustees of the ResPublica Trust.
Milbank was educated in Britain, studying at both Oxford University and Cambridge University (where he studied under Rowan Williams
) before receiving his PhD degree from the University of Birmingham. His dissertation was on the work of Giambattista Vico
under the supervision of Leon Pompa. He is married to Alison Milbank
, also a lecturer at the University of Nottingham
. They have two children.
. He argues that the social sciences are a product of the modern ethos of secularism
, which stems from an ontology
of violence. Theology, therefore, should not seek to make constructive use of secular social theory, for theology itself offers a peaceable, comprehensive vision of all reality, extending to the social and political without the need for a social theory based on some level of violence. (As Contemporary Authors
summarises his thought, "the Christian mythos alone 'is able to rescue virtue from deconstruction into violent, agonistic difference.'") Milbank is sometimes described as a metaphysical
theologian in that he is concerned with establishing a Christian trinitarian ontology. He relies heavily on aspects of the thought of Plato
and Augustine
, in particular the former's modification by the Neoplatonist
philosophers.
Together with Graham Ward
and Catherine Pickstock
he has helped forge a new trajectory in constructive theology known as "Radical Orthodoxy
" — a predominantly Anglo-Catholic approach which is highly critical of modernity
.
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
where he also directs the Centre of Theology and Philosophy. Milbank previously taught at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
and before that at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. He is also Chairman of the trustees of the ResPublica Trust.
Milbank was educated in Britain, studying at both Oxford University and Cambridge University (where he studied under Rowan Williams
Rowan Williams
Rowan Douglas Williams FRSL, FBA, FLSW is an Anglican bishop, poet and theologian. He is the 104th and current Archbishop of Canterbury, Metropolitan of the Province of Canterbury and Primate of All England, offices he has held since early 2003.Williams was previously Bishop of Monmouth and...
) before receiving his PhD degree from the University of Birmingham. His dissertation was on the work of Giambattista Vico
Giambattista Vico
Giovanni Battista ' Vico or Vigo was an Italian political philosopher, rhetorician, historian, and jurist....
under the supervision of Leon Pompa. He is married to Alison Milbank
Alison Milbank
Alison Milbank is a professor at the University of Nottingham in the theology and religious studies department.Milbank studied theology and English literature at the University of Cambridge and then completed a doctorate at the University of Lancaster...
, also a lecturer at the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
. They have two children.
Thought
A key part of the controversy surrounding Milbank concerns his view of the relationship between theology and the social sciencesSocial sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
. He argues that the social sciences are a product of the modern ethos of secularism
Secularism
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
, which stems from an ontology
Ontology
Ontology is the philosophical study of the nature of being, existence or reality as such, as well as the basic categories of being and their relations...
of violence. Theology, therefore, should not seek to make constructive use of secular social theory, for theology itself offers a peaceable, comprehensive vision of all reality, extending to the social and political without the need for a social theory based on some level of violence. (As Contemporary Authors
Contemporary Authors
Contemporary Authors is an annually updated reference work published by Gale Cengage. It provides biographical details on over 120,000 writers in all genres whose works have been published in the English language...
summarises his thought, "the Christian mythos alone 'is able to rescue virtue from deconstruction into violent, agonistic difference.'") Milbank is sometimes described as a metaphysical
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
theologian in that he is concerned with establishing a Christian trinitarian ontology. He relies heavily on aspects of the thought of Plato
Plato
Plato , was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the...
and Augustine
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo , also known as Augustine, St. Augustine, St. Austin, St. Augoustinos, Blessed Augustine, or St. Augustine the Blessed, was Bishop of Hippo Regius . He was a Latin-speaking philosopher and theologian who lived in the Roman Africa Province...
, in particular the former's modification by the Neoplatonist
Neoplatonism
Neoplatonism , is the modern term for a school of religious and mystical philosophy that took shape in the 3rd century AD, based on the teachings of Plato and earlier Platonists, with its earliest contributor believed to be Plotinus, and his teacher Ammonius Saccas...
philosophers.
Together with Graham Ward
Graham Ward (theologian)
Graham Ward is currently Professor of Contextual Theology and Ethics at the University of Manchester, England. His appointment as Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford is expected to take effect from 1 October 2012. His letter of appointment had to be re-issued because his...
and Catherine Pickstock
Catherine Pickstock
Catherine Pickstock is a member of the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge and a Reader in Philosophy and Theology, Fellow and Tutor of Emmanuel College, Cambridge...
he has helped forge a new trajectory in constructive theology known as "Radical Orthodoxy
Radical orthodoxy
Radical Orthodoxy is Christian theological and philosophical school of thought which makes use of postmodern philosophy to reject the paradigm of modernity...
" — a predominantly Anglo-Catholic approach which is highly critical of modernity
Modernity
Modernity typically refers to a post-traditional, post-medieval historical period, one marked by the move from feudalism toward capitalism, industrialization, secularization, rationalization, the nation-state and its constituent institutions and forms of surveillance...
.
Books
- Theology and Social Theory, 1990 - (ISBN 0-631-18948-3)
- The Religious Dimension in the Thought of Giambattista Vico, 1668-1744, 2 vols., 1991-92 - (ISBN 0773496947 [pt. 1], ISBN 0773492151 [pt. 2])
- The Mercurial Wood: Sites, Tales, Qualities, 1997 - (ISBN 3705201131)
- The Word Made Strange, 1997 - (ISBN 0-631-20336-2)
- Truth in Aquinas, with Catherine PickstockCatherine PickstockCatherine Pickstock is a member of the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge and a Reader in Philosophy and Theology, Fellow and Tutor of Emmanuel College, Cambridge...
, 2000 - (ISBN 0-415-23335-6) - Being Reconciled: Ontology and Pardon, 2003 - (ISBN 0-415-30525-X)
- The Suspended Middle: Henri de Lubac and the Debate concerning the Supernatural, 2005 - (ISBN 0-8028-2899-X)
- The Monstrosity of Christ: Paradox or Dialectic?, With Slavoj ŽižekSlavoj ŽižekSlavoj Žižek is a Slovenian philosopher, critical theorist working in the traditions of Hegelianism, Marxism and Lacanian psychoanalysis. He has made contributions to political theory, film theory, and theoretical psychoanalysis....
, 2009 - (ISBN 9780262012713)
Essays in edited volumes
- "Postmodern Critical Augustinianism: A Short Summa in Forty-two Responses to Unasked Questions", found in The Postmodern God: a Theological Reader, edited by Graham WardGraham WardGraham Ward is a professional footballer, currently playing for Conference North side Worcester City, where he plays as a Defender.- Playing career :...
, 1997 - (ISBN 0-631-20141-6) - "The Last of the Last: Theology in the Church", found in Conflicting Allegiances: The Church-Based University in a Liberal Democratic Society, 2004 - (ISBN 1-58743-063-0)
- "Alternative Protestantism: Radical Orthodoxy and the Reformed Tradition", found in Radical Orthodoxy and the Reformed Tradition: Creation, Covenant, And Participation, 2005 - (ISBN 0-8010-2756-X)
- "Shari'a and the True Basis of Group Rights: Islam, the West, and Liberalism", found in Shari'a in the West, edited by Rex Ahdar and Nicholas Aroney, 2010 - (ISBN 978-0-19-958291-4)
External links
- Interview with John Milbank, 2005
- Interview with John Milbank, 2008
- The Ethics of Self-Sacrifice article in First ThingsFirst ThingsFirst Things is an ecumenical journal focused on creating a "religiously informed public philosophy for the ordering of society". The journal is inter-denominational and inter-religious, representing a broad intellectual tradition of Christian and Jewish critique of contemporary society...
(1999) - "Christ the Exception" from the Center of Theological Inquiry
- University Profile at the University of Nottingham
- The Centre of Theology and Philosophy, of which Milbank is the director.
- "The Politics of Paradox" from the 2009 TELOSTELOS (journal)Telos is an academic journal published in the United States. It was founded in May 1968 to provide the New Left with a coherent theoretical perspective. It sought to expand the Husserlian diagnosis of "the crisis of European sciences" to prefigure a particular program of social reconstruction...
Conference - http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode=406157 Larazus Style Comeback, Times Higher Education 16 April 2009