Library of Neology. Commented critical Edition (10 Vol.)

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Albrecht Beutel; Dr. Jan Brase
• Subject Area: Protestant Theology
• Term: since 2014
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 251641587

Enlightenment Theology must be considered the significant link in between Old and New Protestantism. Additionally, being linked to major issues of cultural science, it was of great influence on intellectual history. In marked contrast to its importance, it must be stated that interdisciplinary research on Enlightenment Theology has been hindered by the fact that primary sources are accessible in sometimes highly divergent editions, which, moreover, are accessible in few libraries and in some cases only as digital copies. For these reasons a critical display of the different editions, combined with proper historical comments, is most necessary in order to permit contemporary academic discourses interaction with these key texts. The entirety of Enlightenment Theology, whose thematic extent complicates the perception of its inner coherence, has to be seen as a multinational western European phenomenon covering a broad topical and chronological spectrum, ranging from the first Physiko-theologies of the late 17th century to the late rationalism of the 1830s. The term Neologie (Neology) contrastingly describes a certain period of Enlightenment Theology emerging especially in Germany that, with regard to its chronological, thematic, geographical and personnel outlines, can be esteemed the clearly contoured centre of this epoch. Although Neology first and foremost remained within the German context, it was not limited to ecclesiastical or academic circles, but sustainably merged into almost every cultural sector. Therefore, impacts and impulses of Neology can be found in contemporary literature as well as in politics, philosophy, art, and even architecture. In this respect Neology claims relevance on a pan-European level since its constitutive pool of ideas originated within western European moral philosophy as well as from the philosophy of religion; after the abatement of its mature period it generated a broad and various reception thoughout Europe. Against this background a critical edition, which the Bibliothek der Neologie plans as its objective, will contribute to making a major element of early modern modernisation available for further interdisciplinary research. The Bibliothek der Neologie plans to provide ten key neological texts or text collections by means of a critical hybrid edition (digital edition/monograph) which will fulfil research as well as teaching purposes. The selection criteria are the representative significance of the author, the interdisciplinary relevance, and covering a great breadth of material to give an impression of the variety of genres as well as of particular problems of the Enlightenment, and the reflecting on the impact of the work regarding intellectual and cultural history. Apart from the text each volume will supply a scholarly introduction, a historical commentary, and will conclude with extensive indices, as mandated for any scholarly edition. The printed edition will be published by Mohr Siebeck (Tübingen).

• DFG Programme: Research Grants