Ultimacy

This chapter introduces the study as a work of philosophical theology that adopts the morality of inquiry prevalent within the modern research university. This requires seeking knowledge without privileging the special interests of religious or anti-religious individuals or groups, doctrines, or traditions. The inquiry operates comparatively and evaluatively; it is post-foundationalist, coherentist, and fallibilist in its approach to argumentation, evidence, belief, and knowledge; and it is conducted within an apophatic frame of reference that promotes precision and play. A key term is defined: Ultimate reality is reality as it is most truly, most simply, most comprehensively, most significantly; it is the final word on reality. The chapter introduces three “Great Models” of ultimate reality and three cosmological frameworks that help to connect those models to empirical and experiential considerations. The result is six viable combinations, of which three form the focus of the reverent comparative competition presented in the book.