Introduction to Philosophy Mr. Pendergast

Augustine’s “Confessions” to Aquinas’ “Summa Theologica” to Ockham’s “Razor”

Philosophers	Background	Most Important Idea (or 2 or 3 if Aug or Aquin) from Book	One more fact/idea from the Internet – Include Site	One way in which they disagreed with their predecessors.	“What is the relationship between Religion & Philosophy?
Manichaeans p. 50 Augustine the African, pp. 2-3	Persian Prophet Mani – 3^rd Century AD	Universe is battleground between good and evil, light and darkness. Matter is evil, spirit is good. Spark of light which is soul is longing for liberation.		Socrates, Plato & Aristotle? Cynics, Skeptics, Epicureans & Stoics?
Plotinus p. 30 & p. 50	205-269 AD - Last of the great Greek Philosophers	Founder of Neo-Platonism – mystical thinker – 3 ascending levels of being – “soul, intellect, good”		neoplatonic philosophy regards the natural world as a series of emanations from the nature of god. Took Plato to a new “mystical” level.
Augustine p. 50-52	354-430 AD – Hippo, N Africa	See Mr. P’s 10 Questions on Augustine		Found arguments of Manicheans unsound (50)
Boethius p. 55	480-524 AD – official in Italy – imprisoned and executed for his ideas	The Consolation of Philosophy – he was a Christian, but his “Consolations” were Stoic and Neo-Platonist		What can a Christian learn from Stoics and Neo-Platonists?
John Scotus Erigina p. 56	“John the Scot,” 810-877 AD	There can never be any conflict between reason and divine revelation – independent ways of arriving at truth, both valid.		Since God is unknowable, it is impossible for God the “know Himself.”

Philosophers	Background	Most Important Idea (or 2 or 3 if Aug or Aquin) from Book	One more fact/idea from the Internet – Include Site	One way in which they disagreed with their predecessors.	“Where does Philosophy end and Religion begin?”
Anselm p.56 - 57	1033-1109 AD – Archbishop of Canterbury	Ontological Argument – if we can imagine a perfect being (God), how could a perfect being not have existence?
Peter Abelard p. 56	1079-1142 AD – Abelard & Heloise	Problem of “universals” – “realism” (Plato’s Ideal Forms) and “nominalism” (Aristotle) – Abelard was a “nominalist”		The notion of “universals” – followers of Aristotle disagreed.
Roger Bacon p. 58	1220 – 1292 AD	Believed there could and should be a unified science based on math, using observation and experiment as well as abstract reasoning
Thomas Aquinas p. 58	1224-1274 AD – For over 100 years considered the “Philosopher of the Catholic Church” Marriage of “Faith & Reason”	Greatest Achievement – created synthesis of all that had been argued in Western thought and show it to be compatible with Christianity. See Mr. P’s 10 Questions on Aquinas for the rest.
Duns Scotus p. 61	1266 – 1308 AD – “In some ways, most superior example of a Medieval Scholastic Philosopher”	Holds honestly to the distinction between faith and reason – believes in immortality of the soul, but states there are no “proofs” that are convincing		Duns Scotus differs from Aquinas by saying that “Faith” and “Reason” are not always compatible
William of Ockham p. 61	1285 – 1347 AD	Only observation and experience – which we must reason about – can provide us with reliable knowledge of world and nature.		Ockham’s Razor – “everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” - Einstein