@article{ART003201299},
author={Baik Soyoung},
title={Regarding Ethical Aspects of Human Agency: A Comparative Reading of McFague’s “Reflection” and Barad’s “Diffraction”},
journal={The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics},
issn={1229-8387},
year={2025},
number={61},
pages={233-278}
TY - JOUR
AU - Baik Soyoung
TI - Regarding Ethical Aspects of Human Agency: A Comparative Reading of McFague’s “Reflection” and Barad’s “Diffraction”
JO - The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics
PY - 2025
VL - null
IS - 61
PB - The Society Of Korean Christian Social Ethics
SP - 233
EP - 278
SN - 1229-8387
AB - This paper considers ethical aspects of human agency by comparing Sally McFague’s concept of ‘reflection’ and Karan Barad’s concept of ‘diffraction.’ Both McFague and Barad, arguing for neo-materialism which is monolitic, criticize the dualistic realism which has long been the epistemological and ontological foundation of the Christian theological tradition, especially the way of dividing soul and body and of meaning and matter. However, based on McFague’s understanding of divinity as “transcendent immanent” and of humanity in a dynamic relationship with the indwelling divinity(i.e. theosis and kenosis), this study distinguishes McFague’s ‘theological realism’ from Barad’s ‘agential realism’, which views that all beings are active agents entangled in “intra-action” of material world and thus the boundaries of existence are only temporary and contingent “phenomona.” In the sense of being a being who communicates with and reflects on the ‘divine spirit’, McFague’s ethical agent is ‘human,’ in particular ‘the first-world-humans’ who exclusively possess capital, knowledge, and advanced technology. Through reflective reason and spirituality, humans are able to carry out this ethical responsibility, even unfavorable to them, and respond to the ‘divine spirit’ that urges ‘universal values’ such as love, justice, and peace.
KW - Reflection;Diffraction;Theological Realism;Divine Spirit;Entanglement
DO -
UR -
ER -
Baik Soyoung. (2025). Regarding Ethical Aspects of Human Agency: A Comparative Reading of McFague’s “Reflection” and Barad’s “Diffraction”. The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics, 61, 233-278.
Baik Soyoung. 2025, "Regarding Ethical Aspects of Human Agency: A Comparative Reading of McFague’s “Reflection” and Barad’s “Diffraction”", The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics, no.61, pp.233-278.
Baik Soyoung "Regarding Ethical Aspects of Human Agency: A Comparative Reading of McFague’s “Reflection” and Barad’s “Diffraction”" The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics 61 pp.233-278 (2025) : 233.
Baik Soyoung. Regarding Ethical Aspects of Human Agency: A Comparative Reading of McFague’s “Reflection” and Barad’s “Diffraction”. 2025; 61 : 233-278.
Baik Soyoung. "Regarding Ethical Aspects of Human Agency: A Comparative Reading of McFague’s “Reflection” and Barad’s “Diffraction”" The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics no.61(2025) : 233-278.
Baik Soyoung. Regarding Ethical Aspects of Human Agency: A Comparative Reading of McFague’s “Reflection” and Barad’s “Diffraction”. The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics, 61, 233-278.
Baik Soyoung. Regarding Ethical Aspects of Human Agency: A Comparative Reading of McFague’s “Reflection” and Barad’s “Diffraction”. The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics. 2025; 61 233-278.
Baik Soyoung. Regarding Ethical Aspects of Human Agency: A Comparative Reading of McFague’s “Reflection” and Barad’s “Diffraction”. 2025; 61 : 233-278.
Baik Soyoung. "Regarding Ethical Aspects of Human Agency: A Comparative Reading of McFague’s “Reflection” and Barad’s “Diffraction”" The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics no.61(2025) : 233-278.
