Is There a Catholic Philosophy?
I once read a book with the subject title. It was one volume of the old Catholic Encyclopedia. I was young and uneducated at the time and thus didn't even understand the question, let alone the text. Now I at least think I understand the question, which I believe goes something like this (vastly simplified):
Does the Catholic Faith compel a specific philosophy in the manner of, "If it is true that Christ died for our sins, it therefore follows that ..." This would include everything from metaphysics to social philosophy. I suppose that another way of framing the question could be, If a skilled philosopher were allowed to interview Christ about philosophical issues, what philosophy would fall out of that interview?
It seems that many, if not most, of the "public policy" debates upon which we Catholics expend so much energy arguing about result from the absence of a "Catholic" philosophy. Why, for example, did not God arrange things such that at some point in our Lord's life He was confronted by, say, a man beating a child with the clear intention of killing that child. We presumably would then be blessed with a Gospel story detailing His resolution of this confrontation. End of arguments (one way or the other) about pacifism. Since God did not so arrange things, we have angry groups of death penalty opponents and supporters hurling imprecations at one another. You can surely supply your own example.
So I for one am looking for answers.
While faith cannot compel an
While faith cannot compel an entire philosophy, I think it can (and must) compel certain assumptions:
God exists.
God is good.
God wishes us to be good.
To be good is to be like God. (holiness)
We exist.
We exist as individuals.
The material world exists.
The immaterial (spiritual world) exists.
and so forth...
Building from these assumptions, I think that the philosophies that can be called 'Christian' are a somewhat narrowed category (nihilism is out, so is pantheism, and many others), but still broad enough to incorporate both some differences in Western (Aquinas and the scholastics most notably) and Eastern thought (the E.Orthodox churches). Far Eastern, new age, and Pagan philosophy maybe compatible in a modified form, namely the basic Catholic premises must be taken into account and then the philosophy in question restructured as needed.
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What I'm Listening To...
Bob, I'm not so sure faith
Bob, I'm not so sure faith can compel a philosophy. Sometimes, in that dark night of the soul, I wonder why God did or didn't do so many things, too.
The beginning of Catholic philosophy, I think, must be found in the Psalms. "Fear of the Lord, is the beginning of wisdom". It IS faith, Bob. Faith in God and His revelation, His gospel. That faith resides in the hearts of Christians, and each heart feels God in a unique way.
We know that the gospel is this; to love God and love each other, but applying love is personal and so difficult to dogmatize.
For specific academic references, there is the copious list of Doctors of the Church, from the original "Fathers", through Augustine, Aquinus to Keirkegard, de Chardin, et.c. And let's not forget the brilliant protestant minds, as well. Luther, Wesley, Barth. In the contemporary world, I would recommend the works of Dallas Willard. Former dean of Philosophy at the University of Southern California. His many writings dissect the gospel message as it enters the various dimensions of the individual.
Beware: The letter corrupts, but the Spirit sets you free.
In the end, The most complete philosophy of the church, it's Summa Philosophy, is this: Love. Let this be your guide.
"The beginning of Wisdom is
"The beginning of Wisdom is knowing which questions to ask." What does it mean to Love someone? Jesus showed us by His Life and His Death on the Cross (His Passion), that to Love someone is to desire Salvation for them. " I Am The Way, The Truth and The Light (Life). Love one another as I Have Loved You." Jesus , The Word Made Flesh, is the very definition of Perfect Love because He is perfect Love. The Church's Summa Philosophy is this: Jesus.(Perfect Truth, Perfect Love) If we Love Him, we will want to keep His Commandments. If we Love Him, we will not deny the Truth.