Zwischen Kontingenzeinsicht und Geltungsbegehren

Abstract Globalisation makes the contingency of every interpretation of reality increasingly evident. This creates a tension between the subjective persuasiveness of an attitude and the awareness of its contingency. The article argues that this tension is a central theme of a future philosophy of religion. Proceeding from Armin Nassehi, Paul Ricoeur and Hans Joas, the first part analyses central implications of a growing contingency sensitivity. It shows that in this process cognitive and affective aspects are closely interwoven. The second part examines the question how the reflexive knowledge of the contingency of a standpoint can be reconciled with the pre-reflective intuition of its privileged validity. With Hans Blumenberg’s concept of rhetorical consolation and Peter Jonkers’ notion of existential truth, the article discusses two solutions to this challenge. In conclusion, both are considered as examples of how philosophy of religion can contribute to substantiating the idea of a ‘contingent certainty’ (Joas).