Particularity Regained: Kenotically Recovering a Theological Pedagogy in Karl Barth and Donald MacKinnon

Abstract

The suspicion remains latent that Karl Barth concedes too much ground to Kantian epistemological structures. Upon investigation of Bruce McCormack’s work, Barth’s most well known North American interpreter, it would seem that this worry is justified. This paper seeks to rehabilitate a reading of Barth sensitive to the concerns raised, particularly by Rowan Williams, by bringing Barth into conversation with Donald MacKinnon over the question of Christ’s kenōsis. The suggestion will be made that Barth’s project is perhaps far more subversive of the Kantian epistemic structures largely left unquestioned by much of McCormack’s work. This, in turn, provides us with reason to raise concerns over McCormack’s reconstruction of Barth’s doctrine of election and the continued problems this raises for ‘learning about our learning.’