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Naming the Elephant: Worldview as a Concept
What is a worldview? What lies behind your thoughts about almost everything? For more than thirty years, James W. Sire has grappled with this issue. In his widely used textbook The Universe Next Door, first published in 1976, Sire offered a succinct definition of a worldview and catalogued in summary fashion seven basic worldview alternatives. Students, critics, new literature and continued reflection have led him to reexamine and refine his definition of a worldview. This second edition companion volume to The Universe Next Door is the fruit of that effort, offering readers his most mature thought on the concept of a worldview, addressing such questions as Naming the Elephant is an excellent resource for exploring more deeply how and why worldview thinking can aid you in navigating your pluralistic universe.
201 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2004
83 people are currently reading
603 people want to read
About the author
James W. Sire
33 books72 followersJames W. Sire was a Christian author, speaker, and former editor for InterVarsity Press.
Sire was an officer in the Army, a college professor of English literature, philosophy and theology, the chief editor of InterVarsity Press, a lecturer at over two hundred universities around the world and the author of twenty books on literature, philosophy and the Christian faith. His book The Universe Next Door, published in 1976 has sold over 350,000 copies. He held a B.A. in chemistry and English from the University of Nebraska, an M.A. in English from Washington State and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Missouri.
Sire was an officer in the Army, a college professor of English literature, philosophy and theology, the chief editor of InterVarsity Press, a lecturer at over two hundred universities around the world and the author of twenty books on literature, philosophy and the Christian faith. His book The Universe Next Door, published in 1976 has sold over 350,000 copies. He held a B.A. in chemistry and English from the University of Nebraska, an M.A. in English from Washington State and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Missouri.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
May 17, 2020
Naming the Elephant is a sequel to The Universe Next Door, which sets out the general concept of "worldview" then reviews eight major worldviews that are currently shaping Western thought and culture, including naturalism, New Age teaching, postmodernism and Islam. See my review on that excellent book for more information and if you haven't read it, start there.
This book is meant to refine some of the ideas presented in the earlier work, and expand on them. Sire gives a helpful recent history of the development of worldview as a concept, leaning heavily on David Naugle. Basically, a lot of people have done a lot of good thoughtful research on the subject of worldview since The Universe Next Door first came out in the 1970s.
Then, Sire proceeds to show the significant contribution story makes to the discussion of worldviews. His earlier work heavily emphasized propositional truth, he says, but he's since grown to understand the fact that worldviews are based in and backed up by the stories that people embrace. These stories shape our basic concepts of reality, God, ethics, and so forth. Our worldview is embedded in them while they also serve to illustrate key aspects of the worldview we hold. He cites the Apostle's Creed as one example of Christian theology and worldview declared primarily through story-- the virgin birth, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus are central in God's grand story, which embodies the worldview Christians live by.
There is also a helpful chapter on the "pre-theoretical" nature of the ideas foundational to any person's worldview. It's challenging and enlightening to think about the things that are not "what we think" but "what we think with," the things without which our thinking wouldn't work. (see ch. 4, "Flesh and Bones"). These are the essential building blocks of our philosophy and propositions, what Sire calls a "fundamental orientation of the heart." There's a helpful little section on the Scriptural idea of heart at the whole soul of the person, the central defining element of a person's humanity.
Finally, I appreciated the treatment of ontology, wherein Sire demonstrates why it is important to prioritize being before knowing, and how the reverse leaves a person in a relativistic morass, like a hall of mirrors. It's good stuff, and quite relevant to recent approaches to literary criticism and postmodern approaches to the use of language.
The reason I would not rank this book higher is that it indulges far too often in rehashing content from the previous book. It sometimes feels like the salient material in Naming the Elephant could have been presented in two or three essays, or about a third of the length of the book as it is.
Nevertheless, it's a worthwhile read and generally profitable.
This book is meant to refine some of the ideas presented in the earlier work, and expand on them. Sire gives a helpful recent history of the development of worldview as a concept, leaning heavily on David Naugle. Basically, a lot of people have done a lot of good thoughtful research on the subject of worldview since The Universe Next Door first came out in the 1970s.
Then, Sire proceeds to show the significant contribution story makes to the discussion of worldviews. His earlier work heavily emphasized propositional truth, he says, but he's since grown to understand the fact that worldviews are based in and backed up by the stories that people embrace. These stories shape our basic concepts of reality, God, ethics, and so forth. Our worldview is embedded in them while they also serve to illustrate key aspects of the worldview we hold. He cites the Apostle's Creed as one example of Christian theology and worldview declared primarily through story-- the virgin birth, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus are central in God's grand story, which embodies the worldview Christians live by.
There is also a helpful chapter on the "pre-theoretical" nature of the ideas foundational to any person's worldview. It's challenging and enlightening to think about the things that are not "what we think" but "what we think with," the things without which our thinking wouldn't work. (see ch. 4, "Flesh and Bones"). These are the essential building blocks of our philosophy and propositions, what Sire calls a "fundamental orientation of the heart." There's a helpful little section on the Scriptural idea of heart at the whole soul of the person, the central defining element of a person's humanity.
Finally, I appreciated the treatment of ontology, wherein Sire demonstrates why it is important to prioritize being before knowing, and how the reverse leaves a person in a relativistic morass, like a hall of mirrors. It's good stuff, and quite relevant to recent approaches to literary criticism and postmodern approaches to the use of language.
The reason I would not rank this book higher is that it indulges far too often in rehashing content from the previous book. It sometimes feels like the salient material in Naming the Elephant could have been presented in two or three essays, or about a third of the length of the book as it is.
Nevertheless, it's a worthwhile read and generally profitable.
July 12, 2013
Sire writes a book to explain his own evolution in understanding of the concept of worldview. To the concept he used in "The Universe Next Door," a book first published in 1976, he has added a few major ideas (this list is not exhaustive):
1) Worldviews are lived out.
2) Worldviews are ultimately based on commitments of the heart to God or to not-God.
3) Worldviews have a storied character.
4) Ontology precedes epistemology.
Sire relies heavily on David Naugle's "Worldview: The History of a Concept," especially in a chapter which surveys just that—the history of worldview thinking. Sire also argues strenuously that ontology precedes epistemology, that there has to be something there to know before any knowing can take place. He explores with some care the difference between the pretheoretical and the theoretical–the bones and the flesh, respectively—within each person's worldview. He also spends some time discussing the place of story. He ends the book showing how the concept of worldview is a helpful tool for analysis of 1) myself, 2) other individuals, 3) cultures, and 4) academic ideas.
The title of the book, "Naming the Elephant," has reference to the first of seven worldview questions Sire has used since "The Universe Next Door": What is the really real? What is the world hanging on? Is it standing on the back of an elephant? Then what is the elephant standing on? Is it hanging in space via gravitational constants? Then what are they hanging on?
I'd start with Wolters' Creation Regained instead of Sire. But Sire is helpful; he comes across as a genuinely godly and humble man whose pursuit of truth has led him to revise (or perhaps add to) his ideas even forty years on.
1) Worldviews are lived out.
2) Worldviews are ultimately based on commitments of the heart to God or to not-God.
3) Worldviews have a storied character.
4) Ontology precedes epistemology.
Sire relies heavily on David Naugle's "Worldview: The History of a Concept," especially in a chapter which surveys just that—the history of worldview thinking. Sire also argues strenuously that ontology precedes epistemology, that there has to be something there to know before any knowing can take place. He explores with some care the difference between the pretheoretical and the theoretical–the bones and the flesh, respectively—within each person's worldview. He also spends some time discussing the place of story. He ends the book showing how the concept of worldview is a helpful tool for analysis of 1) myself, 2) other individuals, 3) cultures, and 4) academic ideas.
The title of the book, "Naming the Elephant," has reference to the first of seven worldview questions Sire has used since "The Universe Next Door": What is the really real? What is the world hanging on? Is it standing on the back of an elephant? Then what is the elephant standing on? Is it hanging in space via gravitational constants? Then what are they hanging on?
I'd start with Wolters' Creation Regained instead of Sire. But Sire is helpful; he comes across as a genuinely godly and humble man whose pursuit of truth has led him to revise (or perhaps add to) his ideas even forty years on.
May 30, 2022
I wobbled between 3 and 4 stars because there were times I felt this was very accessible and then times when it became very academic, but the last chapter sealed it for me, as Sire unpacked the reality of worldview through individual’s worldview. While he may not have presented anything particularly new to me, Sire did articulate what worldview is, why it’s important to be able to articulate one’s worldview and how it is constantly shaped and modified as we go through life.
July 6, 2023
I enjoyed Sire’s ‘The Universe Next Door’ many years ago but this is a superb read as he unpacks what a worldview is and especially a Christian one. He definition is extensive and complex but captures what he is trying to explain about the pervasiveness of our worldview. A very helpful book for those of us living in a pluralistic world today.
March 22, 2021
Achei o livro interessante, porém bastante prolixo. Talvez eu precise revisita-lo outra vez.
October 5, 2024
Lowkey pretty boring at parts (the first third of this book was just looking at like twenty different definitions of worldview throughout history) but a nonetheless a comprehensive overview of the concept of worldviews. Super interesting and the definition Sire puts forth is great.
February 28, 2022
A good, if not deep and philosophically challenging look at the history, definition, and importance of worldview. Sire focuses on the Christian worldview as the most reasonable answer to his eight worldview questions and argues convincingly of its merit.
July 14, 2016
The fundamental mission of James W. Sire’s Naming the Elephant is to define the concept of “worldview” (or at least, to revise the definition of it that he had provided in his previous work on worldview, The Universe Next Door) and to draw out a few of the concept’s many implications in both the personal and public spheres.
Sire derives his title from the metaphor which serves as a frame for his entire discussion: the image of a boy asking his father about the “elephant” which supposedly upholds the earth. The conversation illuminates the nature of worldview as that which is rooted in our most basic presuppositions about ourselves and the world we inhabit. However, Sire wishes to modify his earlier proposal, which he believes was too intellectually-oriented, to include an even more primary behavioral dimension—what he calls a “commitment” which ultimately originates in the human heart.
A rich survey of the history of the concept sets the stage in Chapter 2, drawing heavily from the recent work of David Naugle and concluding that definitions of worldview are themselves products of it. Sire begins with the term’s origins in German Idealism and tracks its development into secular modernism, nihilism, and postmodernism before turning to the definitions provided by key Christian figures and modern evangelicals.
This is followed by one of Sire’s most distinctive arguments in Chapter 3—namely that ontology must be primary in the formulation of worldview (as opposed to epistemology, hermeneutics, or even revelation). For Christians, of course, this means affirming the existence of God as Creator.
Chapter 4 distinguishes “pretheoretical” aspects of thought from the “presuppositions” which they make possible and which in turn provide the basis for conscious thought and action (compared to the relation between skeletal structure and the fleshly adornment it supports).
In Chapter 5 Sire unpacks his revision to the definition by arguing that in addition to its “set of propositions” a worldview is reflected in a “way of life” (behavior) and the “master story” (metanarrative) that it proposes. These dynamics can be observed and even modified as individual worldviews interact with those of the societies in which individuals live (Chapter 6).
Largely by way of review, Sire analyzes each component of his revised definition (Chapter 7), which first considers the concept ontologically (to be consistent with the earlier argument) and then suggests eight “worldview questions” designed to expose the presuppositions of the answerer. Finally, Sire identifies four types of analysis which worldview thinking can foster (Chapter 8)—personal, individual, cultural, and academic.
The strongest contribution of this book is certainly Sire’s insistence that worldview should be conceived in terms of the human heart and its most basic commitments, rather than abstract intellectual assertions. He demonstrates convincingly that this view aligns with the biblical concept of the heart as the source and motivator of all observable human action.
Moreover, it is instructive to witness the way Sire’s own worldview commitment informs and guides the Christian worldview that he articulates (for example, in arguing for the primacy of ontology in worldview formulation). By this means the book achieves a certain inner consistency, explicitly modeling the process that it describes.
Sire derives his title from the metaphor which serves as a frame for his entire discussion: the image of a boy asking his father about the “elephant” which supposedly upholds the earth. The conversation illuminates the nature of worldview as that which is rooted in our most basic presuppositions about ourselves and the world we inhabit. However, Sire wishes to modify his earlier proposal, which he believes was too intellectually-oriented, to include an even more primary behavioral dimension—what he calls a “commitment” which ultimately originates in the human heart.
A rich survey of the history of the concept sets the stage in Chapter 2, drawing heavily from the recent work of David Naugle and concluding that definitions of worldview are themselves products of it. Sire begins with the term’s origins in German Idealism and tracks its development into secular modernism, nihilism, and postmodernism before turning to the definitions provided by key Christian figures and modern evangelicals.
This is followed by one of Sire’s most distinctive arguments in Chapter 3—namely that ontology must be primary in the formulation of worldview (as opposed to epistemology, hermeneutics, or even revelation). For Christians, of course, this means affirming the existence of God as Creator.
Chapter 4 distinguishes “pretheoretical” aspects of thought from the “presuppositions” which they make possible and which in turn provide the basis for conscious thought and action (compared to the relation between skeletal structure and the fleshly adornment it supports).
In Chapter 5 Sire unpacks his revision to the definition by arguing that in addition to its “set of propositions” a worldview is reflected in a “way of life” (behavior) and the “master story” (metanarrative) that it proposes. These dynamics can be observed and even modified as individual worldviews interact with those of the societies in which individuals live (Chapter 6).
Largely by way of review, Sire analyzes each component of his revised definition (Chapter 7), which first considers the concept ontologically (to be consistent with the earlier argument) and then suggests eight “worldview questions” designed to expose the presuppositions of the answerer. Finally, Sire identifies four types of analysis which worldview thinking can foster (Chapter 8)—personal, individual, cultural, and academic.
The strongest contribution of this book is certainly Sire’s insistence that worldview should be conceived in terms of the human heart and its most basic commitments, rather than abstract intellectual assertions. He demonstrates convincingly that this view aligns with the biblical concept of the heart as the source and motivator of all observable human action.
Moreover, it is instructive to witness the way Sire’s own worldview commitment informs and guides the Christian worldview that he articulates (for example, in arguing for the primacy of ontology in worldview formulation). By this means the book achieves a certain inner consistency, explicitly modeling the process that it describes.
October 28, 2012
It's been a while since I've read this (about five years), and I hope my memory is not tricking me. I read this book three years into my exposure to worldview issues (through David Noebel) and have read portions of other authors including Pearcey, Noebel, Stonestreet, and Ellis Potter (who just introduced a new rudimentary take on worldview in 3 Theories about Everything). This work by Sire is, in my opinion, the best short work on worldview I've read. Rather than explaining, comparing, contrasting, or critiquing different worldviews (which Sire does in The Universe Next Door), he uses this text to discuss what worldview actually is, how it works, and where the idea comes from. Instead of simply applying the worldview concept as an explanatory tool, he examines the concept itself from a number of perspectives.
July 19, 2012
Very thought-provoking - to the point that I had to use every ounce of my energy to focus on every word to keep it from going over my head. Not an easy read, especially not during summer classes. Altogether, it was good. It had the frustrating conundrum, however, that it tried to make the "worldview perspective" transcend worldview while it never ceased to operate within it's own worldview.
January 25, 2008
This book is Sire's sort-of epistemological work on worldviews, in which he explains why he took such a traditional view of philosophy in his original book, The Universe Next Door (based on metaphysics rather than epistemology or ethics).
November 7, 2008
Not exactly what I was looking for. Sire's "The Universe Next Door: A Worldview Catalog" was one of the most influential books I have ever read. This volume, however, is more focused on the concept of a worldview and is much less interesting.
June 16, 2016
O melhor livro de Sire!
October 21, 2019
This book was in my new classroom when I arrived in Hong Kong two months ago. I’ve been familiar with Sire from his very popular worldview category book The Universe Next Door. He wrote this in 2004 as a followup on what he had learned since he wrote the former book, and clarifying in some philosophical detail what his updated definition of worldview is. I teach a worldview class now so this has been on my list to read for awhile and I finally tackled it this weekend. His last chapter on worldview as a tool for analysis should have been the first one. There’s an essay from a former Chinese student he had, about her conversion to Christianity, that brought me to tears, probably because it feels more personal in my new context. The middle meat of this book goes deep on philosophical analysis such that it leaves the bounds of a popular readership in my opinion. But for those willing to plow through, I think it is worth it. The title is taken from a story where a child asks their father what holds the world up, and the father says an elephant. The son then asks what holds up the elephant, and this continues until the father finally says it’s elephants all the way down. Sire’s contention is that we need to name the elephant, and finally, that his name is the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. 163 pages of worldview, culture, and philosophy.
July 25, 2017
Very eh...the book begins with an old Indian narrative, though Sire credits it to John Locke. The part that upset me is that this book is all buildup and no climax. There is no call to action. He does not even address the title (and thus his thesis) until the final chapter. He references his earlier work more than he talks about his main ideas here. There is a short history given to philosophical thought, but that is a side bar and pure background. You know its a sad bookwhen a sidebar is more interesting and relevant than the main thesis!
April 28, 2019
This is my second go-round on this book. My first time was in 2007. While I found some of the discussion helpful I came away from the book very frustrated. One of the criticisms of worldview thinking is that it intellectualizes the gospel. I’ve generally had a hard time accepting that but after reading this book I think it may be a fair critique. The author circles around worldview seemingly forever and in the process reduces it to an abstraction. Me thinks a new approach is needed. Does anyone have any idea about how a worldview is changed other than by feeding people more information!
August 27, 2017
Not a book about specific worldviews but more a bigger picture book to get you thinking about all worldviews - how do we define them and why, what are some of the principles we use, who came up with this concept anyway.
Helpful but not necessarily essential reading if you're not a big reader. However if you like thinking about how people think and why, this is a good book to delve into. Kindof a companion guide to books about specific worldviews.
Helpful but not necessarily essential reading if you're not a big reader. However if you like thinking about how people think and why, this is a good book to delve into. Kindof a companion guide to books about specific worldviews.
December 31, 2023
Worldview as concept - 2nd times the charm
This 2nd edition of Naming the Elephant improves upon the 1st by responding to critiques of worldview analysis within Christian scholarship. Sire offers a thoughtful definition of worldview that focuses on the heart and commitment as opposed to simply asseant to philosophical or theological propositions. This book could be used as a text in upper year undergraduate or graduate programs.
This 2nd edition of Naming the Elephant improves upon the 1st by responding to critiques of worldview analysis within Christian scholarship. Sire offers a thoughtful definition of worldview that focuses on the heart and commitment as opposed to simply asseant to philosophical or theological propositions. This book could be used as a text in upper year undergraduate or graduate programs.
July 23, 2019
This is a helpful explanation of the term “worldview.” It is particularly helpful because it engages with others who either support or protest the very idea of worldview. Sire does a good job of dealing with heavy philosophical matters in an understandable way.
July 28, 2019
I read this book for a critical thinking class. If you want to challenge the way you currently think about life, read this book. It is from a Christian world view. I know I would have enjoyed this book even if I hadn’t been asked to read it for a class.
September 3, 2019
The first couple chapters are useful as an introduction to the Protestant evangelical literature in worldview studies (mixed in with some odd efforts to loop in the "social imaginaries" work of Charles Taylor).
July 7, 2023
The refined definition of worldview toward the end of the book was really helpful. Thankful for this work as he examined several different takes on the concept of worldview. Helped firm up my own thinking on the subject.
January 29, 2024
The pages are now covered with marginalia, underlining, explanation points, highlights, Scripture references, and a longer list of books to study. Sire's "Naming the Elephant" is a clear, brief analysis of worldviews, and a stellar apologetic for the Christian worldview.
August 18, 2025
Great book on Worlviews!
Important book on worldview with a very catchy and intelligent analogy with the elephant. I felt the book dragged too long. It could’ve ended sooner. Nevertheless, great points made!
Important book on worldview with a very catchy and intelligent analogy with the elephant. I felt the book dragged too long. It could’ve ended sooner. Nevertheless, great points made!
June 5, 2017
As a compliment to The Universe Next Door this book was very good. At times it was a bit too scattered for my tastes. I love James W. Sire, but this book will require a lot more chewing.
February 13, 2020
Excelente livro sobre conceito de cosmovisão.
July 25, 2020
Livraço!
January 13, 2021
A very good and rigorous study of the concept of a worldview. Builds on Sire's other works.
March 12, 2021
Woops.
August 15, 2021
My first reading about this topic (worldview).... and I am hoping to read more about it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews