TOWARDS AN EPISTEMOLOGY OF HOPE: PAUL RICOEUR AND THE HORIZON OF THOUGHT IN PHILOSOPHY AND THEOLOGY

Abstract

The difference between theology and philosophy is usually marked by the distinction between faith and reason. Paul Ricoeur does not ignore this epistemological difference between these two schools of thought, but he insight­fully proposes that the connection between reason and faith must be preceded by the relationship between reason and hope. Hope represents the point of encoun­ter between these two areas of thoughts in the way that it portrays the scope of theological and philosophical investigation. Therefore, the present article aims to articulate the basic components of this perspective of hope as a theological and philosophical horizon. Overall, the scope of hope does not only reaffirm the limits of reason in theology and philosophy, but also highlights the possibilities of rea­soning, which emerged through this encounter between theology and philosophy.