Seat of Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy in the Catholic Tradition
The Catholic Church has always recognized that philosophy is necessary both to understand the faith as well as to defend it. The need for a philosophically informed faith has become more acute with the rise of secularism. Seat of Wisdom demonstrates that the philosophical principles developed in the Catholic tradition, especially as articulated in Thomism, provide the intellectual foundation for belief in God and are also the only reliable basis for a fully coherent vision of man’s place in the world.

Seat of Wisdom begins with an exploration of the relationship between faith and reason. Philosophy’s essential role is to discover the rational principles underlying the intelligible order of reality. These principles act as a bridge connecting science and religious faith, enabling the believer to integrate all facets of human experience.

Each of those first principles, as expressed in the transcendental properties, are then analyzed as the basis of the major philosophical disciplines. Starting with metaphysics’ study of being, the argument proceeds to consider the true, the good, and the beautiful in terms of epistemology, anthropology, ethics, aesthetics, and political philosophy. Lastly, these principles are shown to point to God as creator.

The strength of the Catholic philosophical tradition is evident when contrasted with reductive theories which fail to account for the breadth of human experience. Consequently, each chapter will introduce influential philosophers whose inadequate theories inform contemporary assumptions. Against this, the Thomistic argument is elucidated as being inclusive of the insights of the reductive position. It will be seen that this “both/and” approach is the only way to do justice to the glory of God and the gift of creation.

Religion is prey to skepticism when it is isolated from the rest of knowledge. This integrative argument, uniting discussions of nature, politics, and theology according to common principles, enables the reader to grasp the unity of wisdom. Moreover, by engaging alternative positions, it provides the reader with tools to defend the Catholic worldview against those reductive philosophies which only deprive life of its full meaning.
1139955625
Seat of Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy in the Catholic Tradition
The Catholic Church has always recognized that philosophy is necessary both to understand the faith as well as to defend it. The need for a philosophically informed faith has become more acute with the rise of secularism. Seat of Wisdom demonstrates that the philosophical principles developed in the Catholic tradition, especially as articulated in Thomism, provide the intellectual foundation for belief in God and are also the only reliable basis for a fully coherent vision of man’s place in the world.

Seat of Wisdom begins with an exploration of the relationship between faith and reason. Philosophy’s essential role is to discover the rational principles underlying the intelligible order of reality. These principles act as a bridge connecting science and religious faith, enabling the believer to integrate all facets of human experience.

Each of those first principles, as expressed in the transcendental properties, are then analyzed as the basis of the major philosophical disciplines. Starting with metaphysics’ study of being, the argument proceeds to consider the true, the good, and the beautiful in terms of epistemology, anthropology, ethics, aesthetics, and political philosophy. Lastly, these principles are shown to point to God as creator.

The strength of the Catholic philosophical tradition is evident when contrasted with reductive theories which fail to account for the breadth of human experience. Consequently, each chapter will introduce influential philosophers whose inadequate theories inform contemporary assumptions. Against this, the Thomistic argument is elucidated as being inclusive of the insights of the reductive position. It will be seen that this “both/and” approach is the only way to do justice to the glory of God and the gift of creation.

Religion is prey to skepticism when it is isolated from the rest of knowledge. This integrative argument, uniting discussions of nature, politics, and theology according to common principles, enables the reader to grasp the unity of wisdom. Moreover, by engaging alternative positions, it provides the reader with tools to defend the Catholic worldview against those reductive philosophies which only deprive life of its full meaning.
34.95 In Stock
Seat of Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy in the Catholic Tradition

Seat of Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy in the Catholic Tradition

by James M. Jacobs
Seat of Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy in the Catholic Tradition

Seat of Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy in the Catholic Tradition

by James M. Jacobs

Paperback

$34.95 
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Overview

The Catholic Church has always recognized that philosophy is necessary both to understand the faith as well as to defend it. The need for a philosophically informed faith has become more acute with the rise of secularism. Seat of Wisdom demonstrates that the philosophical principles developed in the Catholic tradition, especially as articulated in Thomism, provide the intellectual foundation for belief in God and are also the only reliable basis for a fully coherent vision of man’s place in the world.

Seat of Wisdom begins with an exploration of the relationship between faith and reason. Philosophy’s essential role is to discover the rational principles underlying the intelligible order of reality. These principles act as a bridge connecting science and religious faith, enabling the believer to integrate all facets of human experience.

Each of those first principles, as expressed in the transcendental properties, are then analyzed as the basis of the major philosophical disciplines. Starting with metaphysics’ study of being, the argument proceeds to consider the true, the good, and the beautiful in terms of epistemology, anthropology, ethics, aesthetics, and political philosophy. Lastly, these principles are shown to point to God as creator.

The strength of the Catholic philosophical tradition is evident when contrasted with reductive theories which fail to account for the breadth of human experience. Consequently, each chapter will introduce influential philosophers whose inadequate theories inform contemporary assumptions. Against this, the Thomistic argument is elucidated as being inclusive of the insights of the reductive position. It will be seen that this “both/and” approach is the only way to do justice to the glory of God and the gift of creation.

Religion is prey to skepticism when it is isolated from the rest of knowledge. This integrative argument, uniting discussions of nature, politics, and theology according to common principles, enables the reader to grasp the unity of wisdom. Moreover, by engaging alternative positions, it provides the reader with tools to defend the Catholic worldview against those reductive philosophies which only deprive life of its full meaning.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780813234656
Publisher: Catholic University of America Press
Publication date: 01/14/2022
Pages: 400
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

James M. Jacobs is director of philosophy programs and associate academic dean at Notre Dame Seminary, New Orleans, LA.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Catholicism and Philosophy 1

Philosophy: The Handmaid to Theology 1

Three Uses of Philosophy in Theology 5

Characteristics of a Catholic Philosophy 8

Outline of the Book 12

Concluding Apologetic Postscript 17

Further Reading 19

Chapter 1 Wisdom and Faith: The Relation between Reason and Revelation 21

The Problem 21

What Is Philosophy? 23

The Necessary Uselessness of Philosophy 25

First Principles 28

Four Implications of First Principles 31

Philosophy and Faith 35

What Is Faith? 41

Philosophy Overcomes the Reductionism of Scientism and Fideism 44

Further Reading 47

Part I What Is 49

Chapter 2 The Origins of the Perennial Philosophy 51

The Birth of Philosophy 52

The Pre-Socratics (ca, 600 BC to ca. 400 BC) 53

The Socratic Revolution 62

Plato: The Discovery of Transcendent Truth 65

Aristotle: The Master of Those Who Know 69

Later Philosophical Developments 80

The Rejection of the Perennial Philosophy 85

Further Reading 91

Chapter 3 The One and the Many: The Search for Being in Metaphysics 93

The Problem: Knowing Reality behind Appearance 93

Reductive Extremes 96

The Act of Existence 100

The Transcendental Properties of Being 115

The Divisions of Being 118

The Analogy of Being 121

The Ladder of Being 124

Further Reading 127

Chapter 4 What Is Truth? Epistemology and the Extent of Knowledge 129

The Problem: What Can Be Known? 129

The Rejection of Knowledge: Relativism and Skepticism 131

Framing the Problem: Plato's Critique of Knowing as Looking 134

Reductive Extremes 137

Thomistic Realism: Necessity in the Contingent 154

Further Reading 170

Chapter 5 What Is Man That Thou Art Mindful of Him? Humans as Persons 171

The Problem: Man, between the Beasts and the Angels 171

The Platonic Foundations 173

Reductive Extremes 176

Hylomorphism and the Unity of Man 189

Significant Implications of Human Nature 210

Personalism 214

Further Reading 217

Part II What Ought to Be 219

Chapter 6 That Which All Desire; Goodness as the Principle of Human Acts 221

The Problem: What Must I Do? 221

Reductive Extremes 229

Virtue Ethics: Being a Better Person 242

The Natural Law 248

The Good of Making: Beauty and Art 268

Further Reading 280

Chapter 7 The Person and the Common Good: Political Philosophy 283

The Problem: Rendering unto Caesar What Is Caesar's 283

Reductive Extremes 287

Community: The Temporal and the Eternal Ends of a Person 294

Further Reading 320

Part III Ever Shall Be 321

Chapter 8 God: The Alpha and the Omega 323

The Problem: The Hidden God 323

Reductive Extremes 325

"I Am Who Am" (Ex 3:14) 345

The Master Both-And: Primary and Secondary Cause 364

Miracles and Prayer 366

Further Reading 369

Chapter 9 Evil: The Perennial Objection to the Perennial Philosophy 371

How to Think about Privations 374

Metaphysical Background: Being and God 377

Being as Good 379

The Presence of Evil in Creation 383

God and Evil 389

Conclusion: Piety to Being 392

Further Reading 393

Appendices 395

Appendix I Timetable of Major Philosophers and Key Moments in History 395

Appendix II Natural Knowledge of God 397

Bibliography 399

Index 413

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