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The Construction of Doubt: Reflection, Faith, and the Knowledge of God

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The Coleridge Legacy

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Abstract

Aherne argues that Coleridge’s influence on philosophy and theology is, in many ways, the most revelatory component of his legacy, because his intellectual credentials were called into question so persistently after he died, dramatically diminishing the validity of his contribution. Indeed, his dubious status as a philosopher has long undermined his (rightful) position in the history of nineteenth-century thought, but his ‘constructive’ philosophy armed the succeeding generation against scepticism. The chapter outlines how Coleridge’s approach to philosophy generally (particularly his distinction between the Reason and the Understanding) made him an intellectual catalyst for American philosophers before examining the endurance of Coleridge’s defence of faith as self-evidencing through emotional conviction; lastly it discusses the intellectual development of those influenced by Coleridge, as well as analysing the fate of some of his positions.

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  1. King’s College London, London, UK

    Philip Aherne

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Aherne, P. (2018). The Construction of Doubt: Reflection, Faith, and the Knowledge of God. In: The Coleridge Legacy. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-95858-3_5

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