Ninian Smart as Philosopher of Religion

Abstract

The philosophical conception of British scholar of religion Ninian Smart (1927–2001) is analyzed. Its most significant elements, such as the model of doctrinal schemes, the principle of federalism of worldviews and the methodology of informed empathy are indicated. The philosophy of worldviews, which the author proposed as a replacement for the philosophy of religion to study the totality of significant secular systems of ideas and religions, which are combined by Smart into a single category of worldviews, is outlined. It is stated that the ambiguity of the goals and objectives of such a philosophy, as well as its similarity with religious studies, was criticized. The role of the concept of worldviews and the model of seven dimensions of religion within the framework of Smart's holistic concept, which focuses on the lack of crucial differences between secular and religious worldviews, is indicated. The importance of a dialogue of religions and reflection about the types of religious experience for understanding his research approach is demonstrated. It is concluded that Smart's approach included the following aspects: the principle of methodological agnosticism, support of the pluralism of worldviews, special attention to the transcendent, the development of a global dimension of study worldviews, the rejection of reductionism in the study of religion and its reduction only to theism. It is emphasized that the scholar attempted to streamline the structure of religious discourse and his concept can be considered as some kind of combination of the methodologies of religious studies and philosophy of religion.