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Posts Tagged ‘Modern Philosophy’

faith & reason + Scientism + brave mice + final essays

MASS – (Fr Vallee) — In the darkest times, the Lord is with us.  [Guardian angel Rosary assistance].

AQUINAS – (Fr Vallee) — reviewed a general timeline after the death of Thomas Aquinas in 1250.  William of Ockham gave rise to Nominalism (minimized metaphysics, which is the link between philosophy and theology).  The movie “Name of the Rose” reflected his nominalist attitude.  In the 19th century, debates in the Church led to extreme responses like Rationalism (sola ratio) and Fideism (sola fide).  As opposed to Protestant extremism (sola scriptura & sola fide), the Catholic Church maintains balance between “faith & reason” as well as “Scripture & Tradition.”

CONTEMPORARY PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — reviewed characteristics of Modern Philosophy:

1)  Turn towards the “self” (anthropos becomes conscious)
2)  Turn toward “subjectivity” (reality + truth = function of the subjective)
3)  Renewed emphasis on the object (Scientism) (person = reduced to his material reality)
4)  “Fragmentation” of reality (cosmos = science, theos = theology, anthropos = philosophy, psychology, sociology, etc.)

An aside on Scientism brought discussion about genetically engineered mice that had their fear of cats removed via DNA.  A current example of how modernity influences our approach to solving life’s “problems.”  Scientific research + ethics + faith.

19th Century Philosophy … brought Hegelianism / Romantic Idealism that REJECTED the Kantian dichotomy between the noumenon & phenomenon … also brought a greater Kantian dichotomy in philosophy with (Marx) Dialectical Materialism, (Comte) Positivism, (Nietzsche) Nihilism.

MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Vallee) — our final essay questions will deal with 4 areas for each philosopher … (1) Aporia (1st question & basic theme) … (2) Metaphysics (“What is?”) … (3) Epistemology (study of knowledge) … (4) Ethics.

WORKLIST (1:30-3pm) — starting next week, we’ll have new Wednesday worklist jobs and new house jobs.

HOLY HOUR (4:30-5:30pm) — intention for the seminarians at St Vincent’s (major seminary) on 5-day retreat as well as the Southeast Bishops on retreat.  Found a prayer for meditation … Invocations to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament:

Lord Jesus, through Your infant cries when You were born for me in the manger; through Your tears when You died for me on the Cross; through Your love as You live for me in the tabernacle, have mercy on me and save me.

“philosopher soccer”

December 11, 2007 Leave a comment

Yesterday was our exam on Modern Philosophy (not easy) and tommorrow is Ancient Philosophy.  As some of us took a break from a study session, we found this YouTube video from Monty Python about Philosopher’s Football (Soccer) that has the (Ancient) Greeks verse the (Modern & Contemporary) Germans.  — Hillarious!  (but only because I kinda-know some philosophy)

first 2 exams + Publix

December 10, 2007 Leave a comment

Rescue Dawn (2007)MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Final Exam #1 — I think I over-studied with little sleep.  (found out later — 78%)

MINISTERIAL METHODS – (Fr Michael) — Final Exam #2 — 25 multiple choice questions.  (found out later — 2 wrong 92%)

EVENING MOVIERescue Dawn in community room

DOTS — naps — Publix (ice cream, cakes, drinks, sub) — Dinner “mystery ball” w Oz  — watched 3 comics (Josh, Francisco & Ron White)

acorn + Halloween

October 31, 2007 Leave a comment

MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Hume on “causality” (3)

ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — acorn seed (potentiality) vs tree (actuality)

HALLOWEEN PARTY — pumkin carving contest, bobbing for apples, pie (spagetti) eating contest, & costume contest.  Great! 

okra

October 29, 2007 Leave a comment

OkraMODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Hume on the “world” — what is “okra“? — describe it

ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Aristotle — modes of “being”

DOTS — roomie

Locke exam + Visitation Parish

October 12, 2007 Leave a comment

class arm-wrestlingMODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — Mid-term exam on John Locke.  3 essays.  — I think I did exceptionally well.

MID-TERM BREAK BEGINS — after, our last class today, we can leave for our weeklong break.  Without anymore tests and papers due, some of us need to keep busy doing anything … even arm-wrestling before class … all in brotherly fellowship (… I hope). 

Visitation Parish in Miami, FLVISITATION PARISH — On my way driving home, I dropped off a seminarian staying at The Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Miami.  Fr Chris Marino is the pastor of a beautiful parish.  I saw the newly redone interior, but the lights were off, so I only took pictures outside.  There are also some great pictures on their website.  It’s also the former parish of my current Pastor Fr Dalton. 
Visitation Parish, Miami, FL Visitation Parish, Miami, FL

wineskins + Homer’s crayon

September 7, 2007 Leave a comment

wineskinMASS – (Fr Joseph) — homily began and ended with 2 great stories: the “Amazon Explorer” (who can’t fully explain his experience, but encourages others to experience the journey themselves) and the “outstreached arms of Alexander the Great vs Jesus” (Alex conquered all, but died with nothing — while Jesus began with nothing and died to complete everything).  Today’s gospel reading was the parable of the “Old & New Wineskins” where Jesus is the wine and we need to become “new” skins to accept him fully — experience him for ourselves “personally.”

Homer Simpson x-ray of crayon in brainMODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — today surveyed the concepts of the universe from “geocentric” to “heliocentric” challenging in many ways to faith and the Church.  Included was another Simpsons illustration using the episode where Homer has a crayon removed from his brain, becomes smart and Flanders surpress Homer’s ideas because they are too challenging to his belief system.  — Ignorance is bliss.  We also have to learn the Greek alphabet for next Friday.

ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — more Sophists, their subjectiveness and birth of self-awareness.  Also used “Homer’s crayon” and Greek alphabet. — I never really cared for the “Simpsons,” but now I feel like I’m missing out.

ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — continue with the Greeks.  We need to watch the movie 300 be next Friday.  — cool … I get to post more stills from the movie in this week’s posts.

EVENING — had a “Spiritual Direction” session, watched “Pursuit of Happyness” & did some studying. 

Mother Teresa + Sophists

September 5, 2007 Leave a comment

Mother TeresaMASS – (Fr Vallee) — at the 10 year anniversary of the death of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Fr Vallee noted how newly release letters reveal she experienced long periods of “darkness” when she couldn’t feel God.  She would even refer to Jesus as “the absent one” at times.  Lately, the media is questioning her canonization with such “revelation,” not realizing all go through such times in the spiritual lives.  Even St Augustine, St Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross would echo such experiences.  We, just as Mother Teresa, are called to continue through times of spiritual desolation with patience and faithfulness, knowing consolation will come.  — even in seminary, I’m anticipating highs and lows.

MODERN PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — we covered the resurgence of math and rise of modern science.  Notable line: “Psychology is the questionable child of philosophy.”

Art n Ideas with Fr ValleeANCIENT PHILOSOPHY – (Fr Santos) — we covered the Sophists.  — The politics of today has only perfected the art of rhetoric from the Greeks.

ARTS & IDEAS – (Fr Vallee) — we continued with some slides of paintings and began reading his 40+ page handout on the Ancient Philosophy period.  — The power went out during class and lasted through worklist.

worklist dustingWED WORKLIST — Some of our worklist jobs were changed, but I remained in “Sacristy,” where I dusted pews, organized songbooks and collected some garbage.  It was hot (no A/C) but fruitful.

BenedictionWED HOLY HOUR — We had benediction and silent prayer time, where I used my new St Joseph’s Prayerbook (that I just realized I left in the cafeteria) and found some great prayers “Before the Blessed Sacrament.”