A New Anthropology

A New Anthropology
Sku: 53000D0E060
Archival Number: A530
Author: Lonergan, B.
Language(s): English
Decade: 1960
Open 53000D0E060.pdf

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3 handwritten schematic pp. entitled 'A New Anthropology.' (This is one of the headings in A529.)

Transcription:

53000DTE060

Transcription by R. Doran of 53000D0E060: A New Anthropology

A New Anthropology

(1) H. Fries Handbuch theologischer Grundbegriffe

(2) Empirical method employed in the study of man

--> complete explanation of all phenomena

--> research: men of all times and places under all their aspects

specialization

--> behavioral sciences: sensible data distinctions & rel’ns

phenomenology problem of

Geisteswissenschaften: meaning verification under

higher ?

e.g. operations

--> interpretation: the meaning of the dream, symbol, monument, artifact, document, etc. behavioral scientist

--> history: comparative, organic, genetic, dialectic methods

--> criticism: application of the methods to the interpreters & historians

cf ?

(3) Static & dynamic views of the world of man

Static (economists’ stationary state) constant change admitted to exist, but such change is not significant – significance resides in the realm of the necessary universal changeless per is certain true essential – besides it no doubt there exist the contingent particular changing per accidens probable – but plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose – curiosity novelty superficiality – left to tisis, balance of power, ?

Dynamic de facto intelligibility moves from more comprehensive to ever more detailed understanding of human phenomena – everywhere discerns [?] genesis, growth, development, trends, progress, new levels of achievement – its topic is ‘development’ cf Aristotle’s hexis, & Piaget’s adaptation: assimilation and adjustment.

[page 2]

(4) Discontinuity & continuity of theory & practice

Discontinuity: any universal can be applied to any particular, but no step by step advance from more comprehensive to more detailed understanding

the ‘intelligible’ has a broader field than the ‘necessary’

realm of abstract universal necessary changeless essential per se normative ideal

realm of concrete particular contingent changing accidental per accidens

empirical factual

theory speculation wisdom contemplation --> ivory tower

practice experience prudence action --> marketplace, process[?], finance, government

contradictory opposition: necessary – not necessary

Continuity: no contradiction more comprehensive, more detailed understanding

sociology --> social legislation, social workers

economics --> socialism, ‘creeping’ socialism, advisors to govt, industry, finance

psychology --> psychiatry, education, advertising, literary criticism, primitive culture/religion

history --> destiny – (liberals, progress; Marxist, dialectical materialism)

(5) Standardized + Fluid, open socio-cultural v.p.s evaluations

Language: literal & figurative

literal: satisfies logical mind & speech

figurative: simile metaphor synecdoche metonymy personification allegory hyperbole litotes etc.

genera litteraria: language (communication) floats between

logical discourse and laws of affect& imagination

literal figurative is a rationalization of the facts

Art & literature: classics, masterpieces, realizations of perfection, Go then & do likewise

romanticism [?] & subsequent movements Go then & do otherwise

concrete odd particular bizarre realistic fantastic

Tradition: quod ubique, quod semper, quod ab omnibus: the deposit of necessary & immutable wisdom, laws of human nature [?]

the wisdom & folly, common sense & common nonsense, of our predecessors

up to us to surpass this wisdom, to correct their mistakes

gerontocracy (esp. mod. medicine), age of obstruction

Classes, castes: the social order, guarantee of permanence, security, good behavior, ‘lex aeterna’

social mobility – from shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves 3 generations

career open to talent

[page 3]

(6) History

Old history developed cultivated – learning erudition editions of texts, etc

significance lies outside history in immutable laws of human nature

deals w particular contingent accidental

employed to illustrate exemplify instruct convince about immutable laws

New history – the temporal dimension in every field of the study of man – data are not just ‘present’ data

human society, institutions, cultures develop & decline

later take off from earlier achievement

intelligibility is immanent in history – development as such is understood

this intelligibility is the key to the end product

understanding the history of a doctrine/institution/concept terminates at understanding the doctrine/institution/concept

Such intelligibility is dynamic

in general up-do-date, out-of-date, are significant categories

acting in the world that exists, that no longer exists

development reveals essence, essence reveals possibility & impossibility

prudence of uomo universale

man of experience --> science of the expert

overall intelligibility: liberals, progress – Marxists, dialectical materialism

-- cf ? nationalism, past glory

white man’s burden, manifest destiny, myth of the 20th century

enormous potential – Heilsgeschichte (sola scriptura)

[marginal:] Geschichte/Modern world/Historical dynamic

(7) Subjectivity Existenz

Old: obscured – Aristotle – De anima – plants animals men

introspection as explicit technique is recent

obviated – to grasp necessary certain true universal is per se

not to grasp them is flying in face of reason/childhood of the race/? from decadence, sin, corruption

subjectivity (? animus humanus per se ipsum cognoscit)

conversion – known by Augustine & effectively communicated

but the communication was personal ‘cor ad cor loquitur’

concerned man in classical style ‘prout sempiternis rationibus esse debeat’

New: Immanentism & Relativism

Dynamism openness fluidity have taken over the world of man – Necessity has retired to a ? & ever smaller realm (tautology) – the ivory tower seems irrelevant – the locus of the individual & his personal myth

if man chooses to be classicist, he will be in his standardized ghetto – choice provides its own verification

Dichotomy of theory practice --> dichotomy of Existenz History – Empirical method weak on norms