Pillars of American Life As violence against police, political figures, and politically vocal individuals escalates, it is worth noting the way in which such violence departs from the roots of the Western and American tradition. America has been characterized by the ten commandments and by the rule of law and free speech. We may characterize … Continue reading Your Words Made Me Kill You? John Brown, You are Not
Whether all knowledge requires faith?Written in the style of the Disputatio Objection 1: It seems that all knowledge requires faith because faith is to be the rule and measure of our entire life and conduct. Knowledge falls under human life; therefore, it must come under its proper rule, faith. Objection 2: We know … Continue reading Whether all Knowledge Requires Faith?
In the Phaedo, Socrates’ friends gather round him on his last day. He is about to drink hemlock, but they wish to be reassured once again that the soul does indeed live on. They are full of fear that in death the soul meets its end. What would such a proof look like? How can one demonstrate the immortality … Continue reading Experimental Hope
In less than three weeks, I begin my first class at Holy Apostles College & Seminary (HACS). Since I was a freshman in college, back in 1997, I began to set my eyes on graduate work in philosophy. I would never have imagined twenty years would stand between those dreams, that I would be taking … Continue reading A New Stage in the Journey
Image from hodgepodge.me When the ‘cool’ walk into a room, they enter with the stride of impregnable certainty. The cool are quite literally cool-to or unmoved by the insecurities which threaten the uncool. They are seem to be above the human condition and this is their appeal and power. But I am told that behind the facade … Continue reading Free to be Shaken: A Gift of Faith
I am getting pretty excited to walk through some of this quarter’s readings with the students. The Phaedo, Plato Euthyphro, Plato On the Incarnation, Athanasius The Brothers Karamazov, Dostoevsky Prometheus Bound, Aeschylus Meno, Plato Theatetus, Plato Reflections on the Right Use of School Studies, Weil The greatness of some of these readings is in their … Continue reading Pascha Term 2015 Approaches
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim his handiwork. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the … Continue reading Other Kinds of Speech: Images & Originals Part V.B
It is a snow day at New College, and maybe even UPS, so I have a bit of time to reflect on the weekend. Beatrice, and to a lesser extent her older brother Elijah, has a habit of making certain announcements: ◊ “Daddy, I am hungry” ◊ “Drink.” ◊ “Give me___.” ◊ “I’m thirsty.” ◊ … Continue reading Minding Our Manners vs. The Imperative Mood
Same & Other 