Movement, Method of theology, Stages, Methods

Movement, Method of theology, Stages, Methods
Sku: 46400D0E060
Archival Number: A464 V63
Author: Lonergan, B.
Language(s): English
Decade: 1960
Open 46400D0E060.pdf

Description:
Movement, Method of theology, Stages, Methods. Context to be determined. Batch V, file 6, item 3. 7 pp. originally stapled, schematic, handwritten. It is difficult to say what context these notes (starting with 463) belong to. We are beyond the notes for the 'problematic altera' of the 1962 course 'De methodo theologiae,' which ended at 462. These notes do not seem connected to the other two courses 'De methodo theologiae' (spring and fall 1963). They may very well be notes written in proximate connection with the breakthrough in February 1965 to functional specialization -- the next file, Batch V, file 7, contains precisely that breakthrough. But in the present item there is also a connection back to 'De intellectu et methodo,' with mention of the problems of foundation and chasm.

Transcription:

46400D0E060

Revised transcription by R. Doran 3 Sept 2010

Movement

Symbol – Living Not categories but principles

Language – Common Sense for understanding

Logic – Science

I analysis, value, limitations of each

II Transitions – implicit à explicit

genetic educational-critical

dialectical historical

III Study in the movement the differences

insight into that

is where intelligibility lies

IV Understand movement

à explanation

à proofs

à refutations

understanding yields not just one set of concepts, relations

but any variation for any purpose[?]

[page 2]

Method & Theology

(1) Method has been a main determinant

(a) in the modern situation, world

(b) in modern science

(d) in some Catholic Theology

(2) Method has invaded theology itself

(a) sources – Biblical criticism

Patristic study dogmatic development

Councils ‘proof’

Theologians

(b) problems: moral, pastoral, ascetical, mystical, liturgy

missiology, kerygmatic, ?

personalist, existentialist

(ii) queen in her own house

(d) theology has to enter into the game of method

(3) Problem of (i) foundations, of criteria

(ii) historicity (logic has no clocks)

(iii) chasm

(iv) else with too little and too late – take initiative

[page 3]

Method such an explicit strategy (First Stage)

A: (a) is the work of practical intellect – creative inventive prescriptive

yet it guides theoretical activity prescribes procedures, sets up criteria, shows the way to truth

(b) becomes more precise exact with regard to its

suppositions as it develops from practice

implications practical results

extended by analogy to other fields

(d) is most easily understood judged evaluated in the light of results

B: (a) it needs general acceptance by the learned class

by educators

(b) it needs to be formulated in terms [of?] |

in contrast with | accepted notions

solve difficulties arising from other fields

and it has to do so [prematurely?] (A B)

IT NEEDS AN IDEOLOGY

(d) it so becomes involved in the dialectic of philosophies

divisions on religion

problems of state, society, technology, economics

(e) its ? basis is slender as yet; ?? have to be enormous

[marginal:] Advance, development of science

corrects not only initial understanding

but much more the IDEOLOGICAL COMPONENT

C: (a) in the measure that it is successful,

extension by analogy (A?) becomes excessive

(b) the sciences themselves become involved in difficulties

that arise simply from their mistaken methodological notions

to the philosophic, theoretical order

(d) philosophy cannot deal with such views on the basis of what was implicit in common sense in BC 500

[page 4]

Method (Second Stage)

1 Today we can assess the creative power of intellect

we are not where Galileo Francis Bacon etc. stood

we can judge from results | Possibility of Method in a New Mode

i.e. not just an a priori in conflict

with theology and religion

2 Today we are under a necessity of method in New Mode

(a) it dominates modern science

(b) it has provided a basic motif

a recurring theme in modern philosophy

given it its form

created its problems

(d) it has invaded theology

(i) history: whole question of origins, development

link between revelation and theology

justification of dogma, theology

(ii) chasm: Zersplitterung: Moral, Pastoral, Ascetical & Mystical

Liturgy, Missiology

(iii) foundations: is there any principle, criterion, to force agreement

(e) set of treatises: thesis, status, adversaries, notes, proofs, SScr, PP, TT, P? Theol, objections[?]

[page 5]

Methods

(1) easy to justify once results attained

by themselves, before the results,

supremely convincing to the insight of genius

supremely unconvincing to plain common sense

(2) conflicts

(a) with accepted science (M. Planck)

(b) with philosophy – involves an activity of mind

spontaneity

creativeness

constructiveness

raises epistemological problem

heads into philosophy

(a') reality cut down to size of the method

Galileo – primary & secondary qualities

Descartes - ??

(b') human reality cut down to size of methods of natural science

(c') divine revelation cut down to size of methods of human science

[margin:]

what the method

really involved

purification via

relativity

quantum mechanics

good philosophic

problem

polymorphism

(1) astronomy

(2) geology

(3) archeology

(4) biology

(5) history

(6) state & church

(7) social questions

[page 6]

B Malinowski: intelligent and reasonable in practical sphere

K Jaspers: breakdown of collectivist situation

emergence of individualism, philosophies, 800-200

Ar Method: logos epaktikos – universal definition

reveals what is implicit in C.S.

in intelligence involved in linguistic

grammatical categories

in lumine intellectus agentis est omnis scientia nobis originaliter indita

but it does not reveal what conscious intelligence

can accomplish – it does not give us a concrete grasp

of contemporary physics, chemistry, biology, psychology,

human science

similarly, it does not reveal its own relation to what is to come

as it does not reveal what is to come

so it does not suffice to bring it about

but needs an explicit strategy

a plan of operations

the formulation not only of an ? ideal

but also of practical procedure, technique, criteria

[page 7]

Methods are a basic characteristic of modern science, philosophy, civilization

and could not but influence profoundly modern religion, theology

Galileo (a) ‘geometrization of nature’

not words but sharply defined concepts and necessary relations

(b) subjectivity of secondary qualities

Biblicists

Newton (a) E Cassirer ‘Philosophie der Aufklärung’

analysis – a property of matter – gravity

verified laws – laws of motion/gravitation

system – not geometry but analogy of geometry

(b) Aufklärung

analogy of Newtonian science

in psychology

politics

economics