gee the philosophy forum is doing well!

[Benno]

About 5 thread topics! Who's afraid of the big bad wolf? 

[Lagrange]

...And the fifth thread you have started has nothing to do with philosophy 

[Benno]

Debate topic: Trads are afraid of philsophy.

[Oldavid]

And so's everyone else.

[jovan66102]

And so's everyone else.

Wow! Up to 19 posts without ever making any sort of contribution to any thread you've posted on! Can you say 'TROLL"?

[kjvail]

Well I'm problem I've seen is people who think philosophy / theology is finished, completed. There's nothing left to be said, which is absurd and the sign of a very incomplete education. If you want to hold that position, fine, not everyone is cut out to be a philosopher. It requires one always be able to question, "philosophy begins in wonder" (Aristotle).
Philosophy is not theology, it's conclusions are not dogmatized (generally, there are a very few).

[Oldavid]

Benno, I suspect that you started this to entice me out from under my bridge; if so it's a magnanimous gesture.
Brace yourselves! many are bound to be offended.
I wish that you obviously clever young folk would devote yourselves to gaining a down-to-earth grip on philosophy and theology so that you can deliver some serious blows to the God-hating establishment instead of sitting around in this comfortable place trying to impress one-another with lofty speeches and gratuitous name-dropping.
Now I'll get my little blanket and go back to my bridge.

[QuisUtDeus]

I wish that you obviously clever young folk would devote yourselves to gaining a down-to-earth grip on philosophy and theology so that you can deliver some serious blows to the God-hating establishment

The problem is that the God-hating establishment doesn't pursue the truth but rather pursues its ends through sophistry.  In that world, the lawyers have won over the philosophers, and it is a battle of rhetoric and sound-bites instead of reason.

If you think otherwise, I am interested in reading an argument as to why you believe philosophical and theological arguments would convince an empirical and rhetorical society that believes in neither philosophy nor theology.

[libby]

Well I'm problem I've seen is people who think philosophy / theology is finished, completed. There's nothing left to be said, which is absurd and the sign of a very incomplete education. If you want to hold that position, fine, not everyone is cut out to be a philosopher. It requires one always be able to question, "philosophy begins in wonder" (Aristotle).
Philosophy is not theology, it's conclusions are not dogmatized (generally, there are a very few).

I've heard philosophy being "finished", but never theology. Maybe because I'm Catholic?

Even if everyone is not cut out to be a philosopher, we still need some sort of philosophical education (at least in our childhood/youth) to be able to tackle the rest of our life with the proper attitude towards learning, as well as Faith (IMO).

There's plenty of material that wouldn't be considered philosophy..... but it not only leads one to wonder, but to seek out the truth at every opportunity, and in every possible situation.

[Supercertari]

We have currently a genuine genius occupying the throne of Peter, imho: a philosopher, theologian and intellectual giant - an obviously clever old bloke you might say. His speeches are lofty, the names he drops there are few bigger, his place is not comfortable though he does seek to impress people, that is after all his vocation.

As Quis says, the world of today is not a world that can hear him so instead he is painted as a buffon constantly putting his foot in his mouth. What's marvellous is he does not go quiet. Neither does anyone here go quietly into the chaos of our age. The Philosophy sub-forum may have few individual threads but the whole forum is replete with philosophy. One might say that's where philosophy belongs, not isolated in its own special place but infusing the thoughts and discussions of every arena - at that we do quite well.

[Oldavid]

Quis, Thanks for your reply,
I don't know how to take bits from what you said and include them in my message:- each time I've tried to do so the whole lot vanished into the aether.
I'm not trying to sugest that we might convert the establishment But rather thwart  it's intentions- i.e. save at least a few from being sucked into the vortex. Presently they have it all on their own--no effective opposition.

[QuisUtDeus]

One might say that's where philosophy belongs, not isolated in its own special place but infusing the thoughts and discussions of every arena

Yes, exactly.  Philosophy should not be relegated to mental masturbation.  It should be applied in life and used to inform the lesser disciplines.  Philosophy for the sake of philosophy is a waste of time - one can gaze at his navel and ponder lint if that's all there is to it.

[QuisUtDeus]

Quis, Thanks for your reply,
I don't know how to take bits from what you said and include them in my message:- each time I've tried to do so the whole lot vanished into the aether.
I'm not trying to sugest that we might convert the establishment But rather thwart  it's intentions- i.e. save at least a few from being sucked into the vortex. Presently they have it all on their own--no effective opposition.

I disagree.  I agree with Supercertari - B16 is effective opposition in the theologial and philosophical realm.  The SSPX is.  The FSSP is.  But, they are mocked and ignored just as Christ was by the intellectual "elite".

The way to oppose this is through Catholic words and deeds.  Bl. Teresa of Calcutta was clearly more effective in her opposition than a lot of people.  So, there are two parts: having the right ideas through philosophy and theology, and using the right ideas in actions to set examples and show the fruits of those ideas.

Really, the more Bl. Teresas we have, the more effective the messages of the St. Thomases will be.  That is why the Church has both kinds of Saints.  That is why the Jesuits were successful before they went nuts: they were educated men who were willing to dig ditches.  That is how we should be.

BTW, Pray to St. Ignatius to intercede for his Company.  The world could use them now, but only as they were.

[Oldavid]

Ah yes.I can see that we're talking at crossed purposes here.
There is the philosophy and theology which belongs in the halls of learning with all its technical terminology (for the sake  of brevity and clarity for those learned souls) but philosophy and theology belong to everyone; even though the descriptions and terminology may be in everyday language the concepts should be the same..

[libby]

Ah yes.I can see that we're talking at crossed purposes here.
There is the philosophy and theology which belongs in the halls of learning with all its technical terminology (for the sake  of brevity and clarity for those learned souls) but philosophy and theology belong to everyone; even though the descriptions and terminology may be in everyday language the concepts should be the same..

I don't think it belongs in those halls anymore - not in this day and age, not with everything available to most of us, and the constant barrage of ugliness.

The only place that should have any sort of private philosophical meetings is Rome, in my opinion.

Everybody else needs to just put their blinders on and go full steam ahead  in searching and living Truth and setting the example for those that come after us - if not, to quote Dr. Bombay, we're doomed.