Philosophy in Western Culture Donald T Williams Ph

Philosophy in Western Culture Donald T. Williams, Ph. D Toccoa Falls College

I. What is Philosophy? • A. Etymologically • Filew (phileo) = Love + • Sofia (sophia) = Wisdom • “The Love/Pursuit of Wisdom”

I. What is Philosophy? • A. Etymologically • B. By Example: Answer the “Great Questions” by Rational Thought: • What is Real? (Metaphysics) • Who is Man? (Anthropology) • Why are we Here? (Axiology) • How do we Know? (Epistemology)

I. What is Philosophy? • B. By Example: Answer the Great Questions by Rational Thought • But Existentialists & Logical Positivists Deny the Meaning of the Questions. • Therefore some say 20 th C. has only “Anti. Philosophy. ” • But: Answers implied by the very Denial.

I. What is Philosophy? • C. By Usage: “Philosophy of X ” • View of what nature/purpose of X ought to be. • Kinds of Questions asked: • • What constitutes Data? What are the valid Rules of Interpretation? How does it relate to First Principles? What is its Meaning for Life as a Whole?

I. What is Philosophy? • A. Etymologically, fileo + sofia • B. By Example: Ask “Great Questions” • C. By Usage: “Philosophy of X” • D. Summary – Understand X in terms of First Principles – Primarily through Reason – Ultimately concerned with Great Questions • Metaphysics • Anthropology • Axiology • Epistemology

II. Relation to Theology & Christianity • A. Relation to Theology • 1. Both Deal with the “Great Questions. ” • 2. Use different Methodology • Theology is Expository • Philosophy is Analytic • 3. Can be Complementary.

II. Relation to Theology & Christianity • B. Can Philosophy Be Christian? • 1. Problems • Inherently Humanistic? • Biblical References • Acts 17: 18 • Col. 2: 8

Acts 17: 18, 32 • “And some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with him. And some were saying, ‘What would this idle babbler wish to say? ’. . . Now when they heard of the resurrection from the dead, some began to sneer. . ”

Colossians 2: 8 • “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of this world, rather than according to Christ. ”

B. Can Philosophy Be Christian? • 2. Answers • • Biblical Command Biblical Precedent Philosophy can choose Obedience “The Handmaid of Theology”

B. Can Philosophy Be Christian? • 3. What can Philosophy offer as Handmaid? • • Sharpen Tools of Thought (Logic) Identify Questions, Implications Perceive Architectural Unity/Structure Keep us in Touch with the World

B. Can Philosophy Be Christian? • 3. What can Philosophy offer as Handmaid? • Summary: “Fides quaerens intellectum, ” “Faith seeking understanding. ” --Anselm of Canterbury

III. Some Key Moments in the History of Western Philosophy • The Greeks: • • Pre-Socratics, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle Augustine: A Christian Role-Model Rationalism: Des. Cartes, Kant, Hegel Empiricism: Lock, Hume 20 th Century: Positivism, Existentialism, Etc.

The Pre-Socratics • Heraclitus • Parmenides • Ca. 500 BC • Born ca. 515 BC • Flux • Change is an Illusion • “You can’t step in the same river twice. ” • Mnemonic Device: “Par”menance

The Pre-Socratics Men once thought that it would be nice To step in the same river twice. But then Heraclitus, As if just to spite us, Said, “No! Once will have to suffice. ”

The Pre-Socratics “The water is flowing away; The new that arrives does not stay. Therefore my conclusion: All else is illusion. There is change; that is all we can say. ”

The Pre-Socratics Parmenides answered, “Not so! The stream doth eternally flow. What is permanent’s real. So, whatever you feel, There’s no motion and no place to go. ”

The Pre-Socratics He went on, “Heraclitus, you dunce! Why attempt such ridiculous stunts? With no motion nor change, You can’t even arrange To step in the first river once. ”

The Pre-Socratics Is the world all in flux or immutable? The answers both seemed irrefutable. But while they were debating, Some children went wading Once—twice—and it seemed somewhat suitable.

The Greeks: Socrates • • • Circa 400 BC No Writings; No System Oral Teachings preserved by Plato Oracle: The Wisest Man Socratic Method • “The Unexamined Life is not worth living. ”

The Greeks: Plato • • • 427 -347 BC Disciple of Socrates Emphasized Ideas, Forms, Universals Particulars/Things = Reflections of Ideas Father of Rationalism • “Myth of the Cave”

Platonism Ideas ESSENCE Form (reality) (less real) Things EXISTENCE Matter

Plato’s Myth of the Cave

Plato’s Myth of the Cave The fleeting shadows flow across the wall; That’s all we know. We think they may arise Outside our minds and bring before our eyes Some glimpse of truth—but by the time they fall To us, a faint and hieroglyphic scrawl Is all that’s left. We try to analyze, Deduce from patterns what the shapes disguise— They’re hard to catch and harder to recall.

Plato’s Myth of the Cave We think reflections of reality Are cast by sunlight shining—how we crave To turn and look—but still we strive in vain. No merely mortal man will ever see Whether the Door behind us in the Cave Is there, so firmly Fate has bound our chain.

The Greeks: Aristotle • 384 -322 BC • Disciple of Plato, Tutor of Alexander the Great • Emphasized Particulars, Things, Observation • Father of Empiricism • “In philosophy there is Plato and Aristotle; all else is footnotes. ”

Augustine of Hippo • • 354 -430 AD Confessions, City of God “Tolle, lege. ” “Take up and read. ” Biblical Approach to Platonism • logos (logos); Illumination (John 1: 9)

Augustine, continued • “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness could not overcome it. . There was the true light, which, coming into the world, enlightens every man” (John. 1: 1, 4 -5, 9).

Augustine, continued • Biblical Approach to Platonism • logos (logos); Illumination (John 1: 9) • Rationes Aeternae (Eternal Reasons) • “Credo ut intelligam, ” “ I believe in order that I may understand. ” • Scientia (Knowledge) vs. Sapientia (Wisdom)

The Conversion of Augustine The Voice cried out in answer to his need To take the plunge, to be converted now, Singing, “Tolle, lege, take and read. ” For years he’d stumbled over the hard creed Of Jesus in the flesh—who could see how? But nothing less would answer to his need.

The Conversion of Augustine His mother’s prayers were destined to succeed Through Ambrose’ preaching, his own quest, & Thou Singing, “Tolle, lege, take and read. ” “But can you live without us? ” they would plead— His mistresses—as if to disallow The Voice that cried in answer to his need.

The Conversion of Augustine “Yes! Rather put on Christ, who came to bleed, And make no plans the field of flesh to plow. ” Such was the answer he took up to read. At last the Hound of Heaven had him treed, Weeping, broken, and prepared to bow. The Voice cried out in answer to his need, Singing, “Tolle, lege, take and read. ”

Thomas Aquinas • • • 1225 -1274 AD Summa Theologiae Scholastic Method “Baptized” Aristotle Two Important Ideas: – Two Kinds of Knowledge – The “Five Ways”

Aquinas on Knowledge • Two Ways of Knowing • A. Philosophy • 1. Reason Alone • 2. Includes Knowledge that God exists. • B. Theology • 1. Adds Faith and Revelation • 2. Includes Belief in God

Aquinas on Knowledge • Critique • Definition of Faith vs. Reason • Augustine: Faith required for all knowing • Schaeffer: Aquinas made Reason “Autonomous” • Law of Unintended Consequences

Aquinas: the “Five Ways” • • • 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Motion/Change requires a Prime Mover. Effects require a First Cause. Contingency requires a Necessary One. Imperfection requires a Perfect One Design requires a Designer • Therefore God exists.

Aquinas: the “Five Ways” • Critique • • • 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Infinite Regress? Is it the God of the Bible? Focuses General Revelation (Ps. 19: 1) Useful to Clarify Alternatives Needs to be Supplemented

Rene Des. Cartes • 1596 -1650 • Rationalism • Principle of Doubt • “Cogito ergo sum. ” • “I think; therefore, I am. ”

Des. Cartes There once was a man named Des. Cartes Who asked, “Where should philosophy start? ” He said, “If I can doubt it, I’ll just do without it. Now, that out to make me look smart. ”

Des. Cartes So he doubted the clear and the plain To see what would finally remain. ‘Twas thus he found out There was no way to doubt The doubt in the doubter’s own brain.

Des. Cartes “I exist!” then with joy he concluded. “On this point I cannot be deluded. Even though it sounds dumb, If I think—ergo sum!” To this day he has not been refuted.

Des. Cartes If you ask what this tale is about, It’s that doubting must always run out. For there’s no way to doubt That you’re doubting the doubt That you doubt when you’re doubting your doubt.

John Locke • 1632 -1704 • Empiricism • Foundations for Science • Tabula Rasa • “Blank tablet”

David Hume • 1711 -1776 • Skeptical Empiricism • Miracles contradict “universal experience. ” • Theology = “nothing but sophistry and illusion. ”

Hume David Hume Would never presume To believe in a miracle: He was much too empirical.

Immanuel Kant • 1724 -1804 • Rationalist • Subject-Object • “Ding an Sich, ” “Thing in itself” • “Bluspels” (C. S. Lewis)

Immanuel Kant • Subject - Object

Kant “Our knowledge, ” one sage used to rant, “Is inevitably always aslant. The true Ding an sich Is so sly and so slick, That when you try to see it, you Kan’t. ”

G. F. W. Hegel • 1770 -1831 • Rationalist • Dialectic • Thesis-Antithesis-Synthesis • Influenced Marx • “Dialectical Materialism”

Hegel’s Dialectic Thesis Antithesis Synthesis Antithesis

IV. Some th 20 Cent. Options • A. Logical Positivism • Radical Empiricism • “Verifiability Criterion” • Antony Flew, A. J. Ayer, Rudolph Carnap • Wittgenstein: “Whereof we cannot speak, we must be silent. ” • Evangelical Version: John W. Montgomery

IV. Some th 20 Cent. Options • B. Existentialism (Camus, Sartre) • • • “Existence Precedes Essence” Affirmation of Absurdity Create Personal Meaning Pursuit of Freedom Strong in Artistic Community

IV. Some th 20 Cent. Options • C. Process Philosophy (Whitehead) • D. Eastern Mysticism, New Age • E. Neo-Thomism (Maritain, Gilson) Evangelical Versions: Geisler, Kreeft • F. Calvinistic Presuppositionalism (Dooyeweerd, Van Til, Rushdoony, Schaeffer)

IV. Some th 20 Cent. Options • F. Calvinistic Presuppositionalism • • • Roots in Augustinianism All Beliefs = Faith-Based Role of Presuppositions Common Ground? Must Begin with God

IV. Some th 20 Cent. Options • Presuppositionalism: Critique • Positive – Necessity of Faith – Role of Presuppositions – Analysis of Worldviews • Negative – Some = Extreme on Common Ground – Doctrinaire in Methodology

IV. Some th 20 Cent. Options • G. Reformed Epistemology • Alvin Plantinga, Nicholas Wolterstorf • “Warranted” Beliefs • Beliefs “Properly Basic” • H. A Helpful Non-Conformist: • Michael Polanyi • Personal Knowledge • I. Post-Modernism

CONCLUSION • • Credo ut Intelligam. Fides Quaerens Intellectum. Handmaid of Theology “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10: 5).

CONCLUSION The fleeting shadows flow across the wall; That’s all we know. We think they may arise Outside our minds and bring before our eyes Some glimpse of truth—but by the time they fall To us, a faint and hieroglyphic scrawl Is all that’s left. We try to analyze, Deduce from patterns what the shapes disguise— They’re hard to catch and harder to recall.

CONCLUSION We think reflections of reality Are cast by sunlight shining—how we crave To turn and look—but still we strive in vain. No merely mortal man will ever see Whether the Door behind us in the Cave Is there, so firmly Fate has bound our chain.

CONCLUSION So many years we strove against the chain That gradually some gave up, and hope was dead. “There is no Door; there is no Cave, ” they said, “No explanation, nothing to explain. It’s just a game you play inside your brain: All the poetry you’ve ever read Makes chemical reactions in your head; That’s all that Pleasure is, and also Pain. ”

CONCLUSION What of the Beautiful, the Good, the True? “They’re all illusions; they are all the same, Sounds upon the wind, an empty name, And that is all that can be understood. ” But then, the rule that says that nothing’s true Must be applied to their denial too!

CONCLUSION So hope could not completely be denied. Yet still the shadows flicker on the wall, And we’re not certain what they mean at all In spite of every theory we have tried. If only one of us could get outside Into the Light that fills that vaster hall And not go blind, but come back and recall For us the land where the True Shapes abide!

CONCLUSION If only! But the ancient Grecian knew No way that it could be. It seemed absurd To hope or to despair. So still the True Was but in shadows seen, in echoes heard— Until the birth of a barbaric Jew Who was in the Beginning; was the Word. In thy Light we see light.

Philosophy in Western Culture Donald T. Williams, Ph. D Toccoa Falls College