A Theory of the Embodied Nature of Religion
Nikkel proposes a theory of the biological and embodied nature of religion. This theory rests upon two premises: Human (and all animal) embodiment places a sentient organism in a meaningful environment, that is, correlates an autopoietic self with a meaningful environment; here "meaning: entail...
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Published in | The Journal of religion Vol. 99; no. 2; pp. 137 - 172 |
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Main Author | |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Chicago
The University of Chicago Press
01.04.2019
University of Chicago, acting through its Press |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Nikkel proposes a theory of the biological and embodied nature of religion. This theory rests upon two premises: Human (and all animal) embodiment places a sentient organism in a meaningful environment, that is, correlates an autopoietic self with a meaningful environment; here "meaning: entails both cognition and value, this latter involving some affect and an aesthetic dimension. Another is, all human meanings are embodied, including cultural meanings based upon language. Thus, human beings are radically embodied. His project in some ways parallels the work of anthropologist Thomas Csordas, as he postulates that the body is not an object to be studied in relation to culture, but is to be considered as the subject of culture, or in other words as the existential ground of culture. |
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ISSN: | 0022-4189 1549-6538 |
DOI: | 10.1086/702240 |