This book examines the speculative core of Karl Barths theology, reconsidering the relationship between theory and practice in Barths thinking. A consequence of this reconsideration is the recognition that Barths own account of his theological development is largely correct. Sigurd Baark draws heavily on the philosophical tradition of German Idealism, arguing that an important part of what makes Barth a speculative theologian is the way his thinking is informed by the nexus of self-consciousness, reason and, freedom, which was most fully developed by Kant, Fichte, and Hegel. The book provides a new interpretation of Barths theology, and shows how a speculative understanding of theology is useful in todays intellectual climate.
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: The Speculative Aspect
Chapter 3: Kants Critical Philosophy
Chapter 4: Fichte and Hegel on Knowledge and Self-consciousness
Chapter 5: The Early Dialectical Theology of Barth and Thurneysen
Chapter 6: The Form of Barths Speculative Theology
Chapter 7: Barths Speculative Theology and the Kirchliche Dogmatik
Chapter 8: Conclusion
Baarks argument regarding speculative theology, and in particular the way that it critically departs from McCormacks work, positions The Affirmations of Reason to be a helpful, if provocative, foundation for future scholarship to build upon. & There is a fascinating interplay of certainty and indubitability of Gods existence and character that is also radically non-totalizing. This certainly deserves further consideration, alongside the primary arguments Baark offers about Barths speculative theology. (Michael Laminack, readingreligion.org, July, 2018)Sigurd Baark is an assistant pastor at the German Reformed Church of Copenhagen, as well as an assl£.
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