Augustine, Boethius, Anselm, Aquinas-LHP 6-8. FL 9-10, HWT 9-10
LHP
1. How did Augustine "solve" the problem of evil in his younger days, and then after his conversion to Christianity? Why wasn't it such a problem for him originally?
2. What does Boethius not mention about himself in The Consolation of Philosophy?
3. Boethius' "recollection of ideas" can be traced back to what philosopher?
4. What uniquely self-validating idea did Anselm say we have?
5. Gaunilo criticized Anselm's reasoning using what example?
6. What was Aquinas' 2nd Way?
FL
1. How did Enlightenment values advance in America in the 19th century?
2. What fantasy about 1776 has been accepted as fact by Americans across the religious spectrum (and Ronald Reagan) ever since?
3. How was religion in America, unlike Europe, non-binary?
4. How did Thomas Jefferson characterize America's religious differences in the north and the south?
5. What happened in Cane Ridge, KY in 1801, and how did a Vanderbilt historian describe it?
6. Who was Charles Finney, and what did he understand about American Christianity?
7. What did de Tocqueville say was different about religion in America, compared to Europe?
8. Who was William Miller and what beliefs did he help revive?
9. Who was Joseph Smith and what is the most interesting thing about him?
HWT
1. What fundamental and non-western sense of time has underpinned much of human history?
2. What is "dreamtime" and how is it alien to the modern west?
3. The universalism of western universities implies that what is unimportant?
4. What does John Gray say about the idea of progress?
5. Karma originally concerned what, and lacked what connotations now commonly associated with it?
6. What western ideas have displaced karma, for many young Indians?
Discussion Questions
- [Add your own DQs]
- Would the existence of evil equivalent to good, without guarantees of tthe inevitable triiumph of the latter, solve the problem of suffering?
- Why do you think Boethius didn't write "The Consolation of Christianity"?
- Do you think you have a clear idea of what it would mean for there to be an all-knowing, all-powerful, all-good supernatural being?
- Do you think knowledge is really a form of remembering or recollection? Have we just forgotten what we knew?
- Is there a difference between an uncaused cause (or unmoved mover) and a god?
- Which is the more plausible explanation of the extent of gratuitous suffering in the world, that God exists but is not more powerful than Satan, or that neither God nor Satan exists? Why?
- Are supernatural stories of faith, redemption, and salvation more comforting to you than the power of reason and evidence? Why or why not?
- What do you think of the Manichean idea that an "evil God created the earth and emtombed our souls in the prisons of our bodies"? (Dream of Reason 392)
- Do you agree with Augustine about "the main message of Christianity...that man needs a great deal of help"? (DR 395). If so, must "help" take the form of supernatural salvation? If not, what do you think the message is? What kind of help do we need?
- What do you think of Boethius' proposed solution to the puzzle of free will, that from a divine point of view there's no difference between past, present, and future? 402
- Did Russell "demolish" Anselm's ontological argument? (See below)
- COMMENT: “The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there's little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides.” Carl Sagan
- COMMENT: “Science is not only compatible with spirituality; it is a profound source of spirituality. When we recognize our place in an immensity of light‐years and in the passage of ages, when we grasp the intricacy, beauty, and subtlety of life, then that soaring feeling, that sense of elation and humility combined, is surely spiritual. So are our emotions in the presence of great art or music or literature, or acts of exemplary selfless courage such as those of Mohandas Gandhi or Martin Luther King, Jr. The notion that science and spirituality are somehow mutually exclusive does a disservice to both.” Carl Sagan
- If you were falsely imprisoned, tortured, and scheduled for execution, would you be able to achieve "consolation"? How?
- Can the definition of a word prove anything about the world?
- Is theoretical simplicity always better, even if the universe is complex?
- Does the possibility of other worlds somehow diminish humanity?
- How does the definition of God as omniscient, omnipotent, and perfectly good make it harder to account for evil and suffering in the world? Would it be better to believe in a lesser god, or no god at all?
- Can you explain the concept of Original Sin? Do you think you understand it?
- Is it better to embrace (or renounce) religious faith early in life, or to "sow your wild oats" and enjoy a wide experience of the world before committing to any particular tradition or belief? Were you encouraged by adults, in childhood, to make a public profession of faith? If so, did you understand what that meant or entailed?
- Does the concept of a never-ending struggle between good and evil appeal to you? Does it make sense, in the light of whatever else you believe? Would there be anything "wrong" with a world in which good was already triumphant, happiness for all already secured, kindness and compassion unrivaled by hatred and cruelty?
- Do you find the concept of Original Sin compelling, difficult, unfair, or dubious? In general, do we "inherit the sins of our fathers (and mothers)"? If yes, give examples and explain.
- What kinds of present-day McCarthyism can you see? Is socialism the new communism? How are alternate political philosophies discouraged in America, and where would you place yourself on the spectrum?
- Andersen notes that since WWII "mainline" Christian denominations were peaking (and, as evidence shows, are now declining). What do you think about this when you consider the visible political power of other evangelical denominations? Are you a part of a mainline traditon? If so, how would you explain this shift?
==
If our brains seem to be a step ahead of our minds, does that mean we do not possess free will?
Are all our actions inevitable? (Don't confuse that with ineffable.)
Is belief in free will better for some of us, while belief in determinism is better advised for others?
The first sin that Augustine remembers doing was as a child stealing pears, just to steal them. That is, it was the crime itself that made him want to do it, he didn't even want the pears, he just wanted to sin. It was his "original sin" in a sense, and he always felt most guilty about it.
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Aquinas...
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I share these provocative cartoons not in hostility to religion, but because they reflect genuine puzzlements some of us have regarding the seeming incongruity of saying that God is ineffable AND being confident that one knows God's precise attitudes towards quite specific human concerns... and regarding the paradox of human free will in a universe allegedly governed by omniscience. I hope we'll all choose not to take offense, but to think about and discuss the experiences of ineffability, faith, agency, the unseen objects of belief, etc.
Anselm's "logical" conclusion of God is not just a fallacy but in truth has no basis in logic whatsoever. The problem with Christian philosophers compared to previous eras is they start their line of thought with the presupposition that the Christian god exists. Starting a line of abstract thought with certainty creates a feedback loop that seems logical, but is actually spurious. Philosophers of old began with uncertainty, and many ended with uncertainty, this is the nature of things. Imagining something does not bring it into existence, god is no different than a unicorn.
ReplyDeleteSean Willis H3
DeleteChristian philosophy just bothers me in general. Every Medieval philosopher starts thinking only in order to prove what they already think to be the case. Christianity was so ingrained (and still is) that people simply could not question the origin of their existence, instead they only questioned why their existence behaved the way it did. They ask "why does god allow sin?", when they should have been asking "what is sin?"
ReplyDeleteBased on your comment though, one could argue that the basis of science and the scientific method is not a valid way of observing the world. The scientific method revolves around observing something unexplainable or previously unresearched with the basic idea that it must mean something, have a specific purpose, etc. When you look at the world around you, how can you say that there isn't a higher power out there that created the very fabric of the universe? That is what these philosophers chose to do, study and think on something that they saw actively affecting the world around them, their attitudes, and opinions, and ask "why." Just like modern (or medieval as you say) scientists would do. Additionally, there are many philosophers who asked one of the root questions of Christianity: "what is sin?" and the answer not only lies within the Bible but also is a universal idea throughout many religions, not just Christianity. Although I do appreciate the sentiment of asking the deeper question, this comment merely reflects what scientists, Christians, and people alike do on a daily basis- try to get to the root.
DeleteChristian philosophers only dont focus on questions like, "what is sin" because they already have an answer to that question. If you were to have a book which you believed to have been inspired by God, you would not bother to ask that question because it has a clearly stated answer.
DeleteI am saying that not to change your mind about whether or not they are correct merely to show that they have a reason. Christian philosophers don't overlook the question, they already have an answer.
True! It's all about where to look.
DeleteWhat uniquely self-validating idea did Anselm say we have?
ReplyDeleteHe thought that the fact that we have some idea of God proves His existence.
5. Gaunilo criticized Anselm's reasoning using what example?
He used the example of an island. Imagining that there is a perfect island out in the sea doesn’t mean it must exist. Likewise, Guanilo thought that simply having the notion of the existence of God doesn’t make him real.
6. What was Aquinas' 2nd Way?
The second way was the first cause argument. Aquinas argued that everything has a cause, and there must eventually be some thing without a cause. This would be, according to Aquinas, God.
Is it better to embrace (or renounce) religious faith early in life, or to "sow your wild oats" and enjoy a wide experience of the world before committing to any particular tradition or belief? Were you encouraged by adults, in childhood, to make a public profession of faith? If so, did you understand what that meant or entailed?
ReplyDeleteI think it is better to be exposed to religion from a young age. From there, at around 13 (when I believe a child can think for themselves), I think it is important for children to explore different religions. Whether that be from reading different holy books, or actually attending services. Through this, teenagers can begin to form their own views of different religions, and then can decide how they feel about their own. I don't think it is fair to expect a child to decide their religion without being exposed to others; however, I do thing it is important to expose children to their family's religious beliefs growing up, so that they can feel the love of God throughout their childhood without necessarily committing to that faith.
- Nat Shunk - H01
DeleteWyatt Andrews H01
ReplyDelete1. Constantine solved the question of evil initially by by committing the heresy of Manichaeanism, the idea that God is not all powerful ant thus incapable of stopping all evil. However, as Augustine grew, to believe in the free will argument that evil does not come from the inability of God to control it rather his reluctance to control us. Without the ability to choose between good and evil, man would never have the ability to choose God which is what He wants. He does not desire slave, he desires a servant and a friend.
2. Boethius does not state in his work that he is a Christian as that is not the point of the work. The thesis works on the proposition that man should pursue virtue rather than material wealth.
Keira Warren HO2- FL 5. In Kentucky there was a giant religious revivle where people of multiple denominations and different backgrounds came to preach and have conversations about religion. The vanderbilt historian Vanderbilt historian, Richard Bushman, said it was, "the central event in the Great Revival, the most important religious event in American history."
ReplyDeleteDo you think you have a clear idea of what it would mean for there to be an all-knowing, all-powerful, all-good supernatural being?
I do not, as I do not stand as present in church as most, I do look into different kinds of religions frequently. Almost every large religion has some sort of all-knowing God. This, to me, seems more of a fantasy than necessary. To expect a good to be all-knowing of everything is like expecting your mom to know where everything is in the house. For a god to be all-knowing, all-seeing, all-good then you would think there would be no bad in the world. There would be no such thing as changing your path, it would all be one planned out path that some God wrote out for you before you were conceived.
3. Boethius' "recollection of ideas" can be traced back to what philosopher? His recollection of ideas can be traced back to Plato, who believed that learning is just our memories being jogged. This is an idea that kind of perplexes and makes sense to me at the same time. Some people say that when they die, their life flashes before their eyes; the reason for this is sometimes explained as our bodies trying to save us by giving us the information we could use to survive. At the same time, we as humans, are constantly repeating the same mistakes and learning from them. These phenomenons come to mind when I think of Plato’s idea. However, when it comes to learning new things, new subjects specifically like coding, I definitely think that’s where Plato’s idea starts to lose merit for me. Sure, it coding involves problem-solving skills we may already posess, but it is still something new that doesn’t necessarily all come from memory. Even though Plato is probably referring to moral dilemmas, I still think this an interesting idea to pull apart further.
ReplyDelete5. Gaunilo criticized Anselm's reasoning using what example? He used the example of imagining a perfect island to criticize Anselm’s reasoning. I can agree with Gaunilo’s criticism because the logic Anselm uses falls short if you consider other examples.
ReplyDelete6. What was Aquinas' 2nd Way? His second way was the First Cause Argument, which argued that since everything is part of a series of causes and effects, the first cause must be God. This idea makes more logical sense them Anselm’s, but I can still see holes in his reasoning. The author, for example, says that there could’ve been another reason other than god.
ReplyDeleteLHP 1
ReplyDeleteIn his younger days, Augustine was a Manichaean. Manichaeans believed that God wasn’t supremely powerful. Instead, there was a constant battle between God, who is good, and Satan. In claiming that God had no control over evil and couldn’t defeat it, Augustine could justify, in his mind, why evil happened if there is a God. This is why evil was not a huge problem for him originally because he didn’t believe that God controlled everything. When Augustine converted to Christianity, he solved the problem of evil by stating that because God gave us free will, we have the option to choose whether or not to do right. God cannot remove all evil because then he would be taking our free will.
LHP 2
ReplyDeleteIn “The Consolation of Philosophy,” Boethius did not mention that he was a Christian.
LHP 3
ReplyDeleteBoethius' "recollection of ideas" can be traced back to Plato. Plato believed that everything new we learned was just a jogging of our memory. He believed that life was “a struggle to recall what we knew earlier.”
Why didn't Boethius want to mention that he was part of early Christianity? Was it because of persecution? Embarrassment? Accidentally leaving it out?
ReplyDeleteH02 - LHP 1
ReplyDeleteHis solution to this when he was younger was to believe that there was a never-ending battle between God and Satan. His solution after he converted to Christianity was that God gave humans free will to do whatever they want. It wasn't such a problem because Manichaeans didn't believe that God was all-powerful.
FL 2
ReplyDeleteIt has been accepted as fact that a tall man in a dark robe mysteriously appeared before the founders and gave a five minute speech, "God has given America to be free!", which convinced them to stop arguing and sign the Declaration. This actually came from a short story written during the 1800s titled "The Fourth of July, 1776."
H01 - LHP
ReplyDelete4. What uniquely self-validating idea did Anselm say we have?
- We have he conclusion that God does exist, and even atheists acknowledge the presence and idea of God.
5. Gaunilo criticized Anselm's reasoning using what example?
- Even with a perfect island, with every aspect of it being just right, you can't just conjure it into being because you imagined it.
6. What was Aquinas' 2nd Way?
- The First Cause argument. The questions asked that focus on what created each and every individual object, as it is a never-ending series of effects that keeps going until its creation. "Infinite regress."
LHP
ReplyDelete1. How did Augustine "solve" the problem of evil in his younger days, and then after his conversion to Christianity? Why wasn't it such a problem for him originally?
In his early days, Augustine believed that God and Satan were locked in a never ending battle, as one was not stronger than the other. After his conversion to Christianity, he "solved" the problem of evil by using his "Free Will Defense." Basically, he believed that since God has given us free will to choose our next actions, we determine if they are good or bad next steps. It wasn't a problem for him originally because he didn't believe that God could actually control everything.
2. What does Boethius not mention about himself in The Consolation of Philosophy?
He doesn't mention that he is a Christian in his book, The Consolation of Philosophy.
3. Boethius' "recollection of ideas" can be traced back to what philosopher?
ReplyDeleteHis "recollection of ideas" can be traced back to Plato. Plato thought that we never really learn anything new, but we just have our memories rekindled.
4. What uniquely self-validating idea did Anselm say we have?
He thought that because we have the idea of God, He must be real.
5. Gaunilo criticized Anselm's reasoning using what example?
ReplyDeleteHe criticized his reasoning by using the Perfect Island. He said that just because you can think of the most perfect island, it doesn't mean that it has to necessarily be real.
6. What was Aquinas' 2nd Way?
His second way was "The First Cause Argument." This argument states that there had to be a beginning to everything because you can have an infinite trail of causes and effects without getting to the original source/creator, which must be God.
H01
DeleteDo you think knowledge is really a form of remembering or recollection? Have we just forgotten what we knew?
ReplyDeleteNo. To be quite honest, I don't see how anyone could think that knowledge is just recollection. You can't "gain" something you already knew at one point but forgot. That is recollection. But to gain knowledge is to learn something you haven't known before, which you could not recollect.
2.
ReplyDeleteBoethius doesn’t mention that he is an early Christian.
3.
The “recollection of ideas” can be traced back to Plato.
4.
He says that God exists because we have an idea of what God is.
5.
He said that you can’t imagine a perfect island into real existence in the world just by imagining what it would look like, much like you can’t imagine a God and then have God be real.
6. The First Cause argument: where did everything come from?
LHP
ReplyDelete1. How did Augustine "solve" the problem of evil in his younger days, and then after his conversion to Christianity? Why wasn't it such a problem for him originally?
when he was young he believed that good and evil were in an ongoing battle and that neither was strong enough to truly beat the other, but sometimes evil got the upper hand and vice versa. once he converted to Christianity where it is the belief that God is all powerful this concept didn't work; so he believed God allows evil to happen because he wants humans to have free will, that choosing to do good with free will is the greatest good. But that it comes with the consequence of people being able to reject God and do evil
Tessa Wallace H03 2. Boethius does not mention that he was a Christian in his book. I think he did this because it was not what he was writing about, so he did not think there was a need to mention it in the book. In the book he uses an interpenetration for philosophy as a woman and she says that true happiness is from goodness or God.
ReplyDeleteTessa Wallace H03 3. They can be tracked back to Plato. This is because he talks about how true happiness comes from goodness of God. Plato’s god was the pure form of goodness so we can see the connection from Boethius’ to Plato’s philosophy about the way to achieve true happiness.
Tessa Wallace H03 4. He thought that because we have and idea of God that there must be one because how could we think of something that does not exist. This is something interesting to think about because I feel like everyone, I talk to has their own idea of a god. We might not all agree which one is true or if there is only one. I think that this would make for a great discussion in class because I feel everyone has their own ideas about a god.
Adriana Ramirez Speis H03 LHP
ReplyDelete1. How did Augustine "solve" the problem of evil in his younger days, and then after his conversion to Christianity? Why wasn't it such a problem for him originally?
In his younger days, Augustine ignored the problem of free will and committed himself to Manichaean-ism (?). Augustine's solution after his conversion to Christianity was the Free Will Defense and the choice to "keep our passions under control." It wasn't such a problem for him before hand because he ignored it with the Manichaeans philosophy that everyone is a ball of light and goodness and that the world is bad.
6. What was Aquinas' 2nd Way?
Aquinas’ second way was the “first cause argument.” The starting point of all existence is the costs - the universe and everything in it. Something had to have set it all in motion, that something is God - the first cause and an all powerful being who was uncaused.