Zusammenfassung / Summary
The epistemological und theological framework of John Henry Newman takes shape during his early Anglican period. Especially the sermons preached before the University of Oxford between 1826 and 1843 give a comprehensive view of his thought. They focus on an innovative examination of faith and reason based on his reading of the practical philosophy of Aristotle and the tradition of British empiricism. Like Aristotle, Newman chooses as starting point of his investigation a phenomenology of the concrete faithful. Therefore, he draws our attention to the relation of such epistemic phenomena as insight and belief on the one side and character traits and emotions on the other side. In the later discourses a new concept of reason emerges step by step, that throws a new light on the role of apologetic evidences and theology. Newman’s considerations offer a still underrated alternative to the current discussions on faith and reason.