Owen Barfield: Philosophy Poetry and Theology: 20 (Veritas)

In this book Michael Di Fuccia examines the theological import of Owen Barfields poetic philosophy. He argues that philosophies of immanence fail to account for creativity as is evident in the false shuttling between modernitys active construal and postmodernitys passive construal of subjectivity. In both extremes subjectivity actually dissolves divesting one of any creative integrity. Di Fuccia shows how in Barfields scheme the creative subject appears instead to inhabit a middle or medial realm which upholds ones creative integrity. It is in this way that Barfields poetic philosophy gestures toward a theological vision of poiēsis proper wherein creativity is envisaged as neither purely passive nor purely active but middle. Creativity thus is not immanent but mediated a participation in beings primordial poiēsis. Michael Di Fuccia has produced the most major study of Owen Barfield so far. He shows just why the future of theology may belong to Barfields seemingly wilder but more metaphysically penetrating style of orthodoxy. Barfield realized early that in order to believe now one must disbelieve much of what passes today as accepted secular wisdom. The alternative is some version of theistic positivism credible only to the emotionally immature. I thoroughly recommend this new book to all sensitive and reflective readers. --John Milbank author of Theology and Social Theory Michael Vincent Di Fuccia (PhD University of Nottingham) is a lecturer in philosophical and systematic theology.