Esther Lightcap Meek

Knowing is less about information and more about transformation; less about comprehension and more about being apprehended. This radical book develops the notion of covenant epistemology--an innovative, biblically compatible, holistic, embodied, life-shaping epistemological vision in which all knowing takes the shape of interpersonal, covenantal relationship. Rather than knowing in order to love, we love in order to know. Meek argues that all knowing is best understood as transformative encounter. Creatively blending insights from a diverse range of conversation partners--including Michael Polanyi, Michael D. Williams, Lesslie Newbigin, Parker Palmer, John Macmurray, Martin Buber, and James Loder--Meek offers critically needed "epistemological therapy" in response to the pervasive and damaging presumptions that those in Western culture continue to bring to efforts to know. The book's innovative approach--an unfolding journey of discovery-through-dialogue--itself subverts standard epistemological presumptions of timeless linearity. While it offers a sustained and sophisticated philosophical argument, Loving to Know's texts and textures interweave loosely to effect therapeutic epistemic transformation in the reader.

Esther is a creative philosopher interested in helping us rediscover and reshape our deepest way of seeing our life in the world. An author and public speaker, her books and talks offer innovative philosophizing “for all of us.” She speaks to people in all walks of life, including professionals in business, art, theology, therapy, and education. Her books are also used in high schools, colleges and seminaries.

Many people think that philosophy is abstract and impractical. But Esther argues that to be human is to be born philosophical. Philosophy is bodily felt and plays out in all we do. The antiphilosophical philosophy of our Modern Age overrides and discredits our natural philosophical awareness. It fragments and dehumanizes us. But we can be healed philosophically for flourishing. This positively and practically enhances our life and work. Esther offers creative, therapeutic, philosophizing in everyday language for life, humanness, knowing, reality, God, work, and beauty.

Esther Lightcap Meek (BA Cedarville College, MA Western Kentucky University, PhD Temple University) is Professor of Philosophy emeritus at Geneva College, in Western Pennsylvania. She is a Fellow Scholar with the Fujimura Institute, an Associate Fellow with the Kirby Laing Center for Public Theology, and a member of the Polanyi Society. She offers courses for Theopolis Institute, The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, and Regent College.

Dr. Meek’s books include Longing to Know: The Philosophy of Knowledge for Ordinary People (Brazos, 2003); Loving to Know: Introducing Covenant Epistemology (Cascade, 2011); A Little Manual for Knowing (Cascade, 2014); and Contact With Reality: Michael Polanyi’s Realism and Why It Matters (Cascade, 2017). Dr. Meek is currently writing Doorway to Artistry, in a series relating her philosophical proposals to different areas of life.