Orthodox Theology and Empirical Science: Kant as a Bridge to the Apophatic Revelation of the Orthodox East
Orthodox Theology and Empirical Science: Kant as a Bridge to the Apophatic Revelation of the Orthodox East

Summary/Abstract: The Orthodox theological worldview often finds itself confronted by the unspokennihilism of empiricism, with little common ground for dialogue. This articleestablishes that common ground for discursive exchange through exploring theapophatic aspects of Kantian transcendental theology, which in turn can becomea bridge to the Orthodox negative theology. Kant drew continental thought alongcertain foundational lines with his critique of pure reason and transcendentalidealism; it was his way to locate empirical science with respect to the perceptualfoundations of thought, which are properly understood philosophically. In thisproject, Kant would seek to secure the Christian faith in the transcendental—i.e.,that which underlies all empirical experience. Even so, certain openings totraditional religious mysticism are also to be found in his project, particularlywith respect to transcendental theology. This article explores these Kantianfoundations for an apophatic transcendental theology in relation to thehesychastic writings of Gregory of Sinai, Gregory Palamas, and Nikitas Stithatos.This in turn becomes a new inroad for dialogue with empirical science.

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