The Intellectual Legacy of Herman Dooyeweerd (1894-1977): A Hopeful Philosophy for our Time

Herman Dooyeweerd (1894-1977), a renowned philosopher and legal scholar, has been regarded as one of the most original philosophers the Netherlands has ever produced. In 1935, he published his seminal work, A New Critique of Theoretical Thought, which offers an in-depth analysis of the foundations of culture and science. Dooyeweerd develops a sophisticated and impressive conceptual framework to analyse reality. He demonstrates that every philosophy, all science, and every political ideology is driven by underlying religious or worldview perspectives. The work of Herman Dooyeweerd is currently attracting global interest. From the United States to Korea, from New Zealand to Brazil, and from the United Kingdom to South Africa, professionals across various disciplines—philosophers, engineers, politicians, economists, and others—are expanding upon his ideas within their respective fields. At the same time, his work is becoming increasingly relevant as contemporary society displays characteristics reminiscent of those observed in European culture a century ago. The Intellectual Legacy of Herman Dooyeweerd (1894-1977): A Hopeful Philosophy for our Time introduces his most significant concepts and numerous examples of their contemporary applications.

Table of Contents:
Preface Part 1 | Dooyeweerd 1 Meaning 2 Knowledge 3 Ground-Motives 4 Aspects 5 Unity 6 Things 7 Societal Structures 8 Transcendental Critique 9 Philosophy and Christian Faith 10 Human Being 11 After Dooyeweerd Part 2 | Application 12 Practices 13 Natural Science and Technology 14 Economics 15 Politics 16 Healthcare 17 A Radical yet Generous Philosophy Recommended Reading Acknowledgements About the Authors and Translator Literature Index of Names Subject Index

About the Author :
Maarten Verkerk (1953), chemist and philosopher, was professor of Christian Philosophy at Eindhoven University of Technology (2004-2017) and at Maastricht University (2008-2019). He served in the Dutch Senate for the Christian Union party from 2019-2023. With Jan Hoogland, Jan van der Stoep and Marc de Vries, he wrote Denken, Ontwerpen, Maken. Basisboek techniekfilosofie (2007), published in English as Philosophy of Technology. An introduction for technology and business students (2016). With Jan Harmsen he wrote Process Intensification – Breakthrough in Design, Industrial Innovation Practices, and Education (2020). Gerrit Glas (1954), psychiatrist and philosopher, was professor of Christian Philosophy at Leiden University, professor of Psychiatry and Philosophy at Leiden, professor of Philosophy of Neuroscience at VU and holder of the Dooyeweerd chair in Christian Philosophy at VU. He continues to practise in mental health care. With Henk Jochemsen he wrote Verantwoord Medisch Handelen – Proeve van een christen medisch ethiek (1997). He also published Person-centered Care in Psychiatry – Self-relational, Contextual and Normative Perspectives (2019). Suzan Sierksma-Agteres (1984), biblical scholar and graphic designer, studied Classical Languages and Cultures (Leiden University, B.A. 2008, M.A. 2012) and Theology (VU University, B.A. 2012) and obtained her PhD (2023) from the University of Groningen. Since 2017 she has worked at the Protestant Theological University, initially as a lecturer in Greek and since 2023 as Assistant Professor in the study of the New Testament. From 2011 she also worked as a freelance graphic designer under the name Studio Vormenwereld. She recently published Paul and the Philosophers’ Faith: Discourses of Pistis in the Graeco-Roman World (Brill, 2024).