Opinions on Philosopher Charles Taylor

[Elvenwarrior2k1]

This thread is pretty simple. I’ve heard and read a bit about the Canadian philosopher and sociologist Charles Taylor, and I’m considering reading some of his works since he sounds interesting and is apparently Catholic.

I was just wondering if anyone knows anything about him or has read him? Is he generally orthodox, or is he one of those “progressive” Catholics?

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

If you read his academic work there is no explicit mention of his faith. I’ve only read ‘Sources of the Self’ so far and thought it was very interesting. When I started it I did not know he is Catholic but something about his writing seemed right. For example, current trends in social and political theory tend to insist that there is no inherent self in human beings and that the self is only a social construct. Taylor emphasises the importance of the social for the formation of a ‘self’ and treats the concept as something like a social identity. This is not contrary to the churh teaching because taylor never suggests that there is no inherent self in humans. For that reason I looked him up (hello Wikipedia) and found out about his Catholic faith. Things then made sense and I read the rest of the book in a different light. I look forward to reading his other works.

 

[Robertanthony]

This thread is pretty simple. I’ve heard and read a bit about the Canadian philosopher and sociologist Charles Taylor, and I’m considering reading some of his works since he sounds interesting and is apparently Catholic.

I was just wondering if anyone knows anything about him or has read him? Is he generally orthodox, or is he one of those “progressive” Catholics?

“Apparently” fits perfectly here. He was co-chairman with Gerard Bouchard (Lucien Bouchard’s brother for the record) of the The Consultation Commission on Accommodation Practices Related to Cultural Differences (CCAPRCD) and if you’ll forgive a little gallicism on my part, the elephant gave birth to a mouse (lots of hope, not much substantial result). He might have a great deal of very interesting insights into a lot of things, but you could have never guessed he had a Catholic view on things when he was co-chairman of the CCAPRCD. Great philosopher? Perhaps. Catholic? Nope.

 

[Elvenwarrior2k1]

Thank you, that was very helpful!

 

[Betterave]

“Apparently” fits perfectly here. He was co-chairman with Gerard Bouchard (Lucien Bouchard’s brother for the record) of the The Consultation Commission on Accommodation Practices Related to Cultural Differences (CCAPRCD) and if you’ll forgive a little gallicism on my part, the elephant gave birth to a mouse (lots of hope, not much substantial result). He might have a great deal of very interesting insights into a lot of things, but you could have never guessed he had a Catholic view on things when he was co-chairman of the CCAPRCD. Great philosopher? Perhaps. Catholic? Nope.

Could you be more specific on the “Catholic?-nope” thing?

 

[Robertanthony]

Could you be more specific on the “Catholic?-nope” thing?

Jean Charest wants a smooth ride in between reelections, do you think he would have picked a Catholic with convictions as co-chairman of that commission? Mr. Taylor along with Mr. Bouchard suggested that the crucifix at the National Assembly be removed and be placed elsewhere so everyone is clear about the separation of Church and state (actually, Charest himself voted against that suggestion) and on a municipal level that prayer before meetings be dropped. Perhaps I’m too strict on my definition of a Catholic.