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The Thomistic Realism of Etienne Gilson

The Thomistic Realism of Etienne Gilson. Steven Schultz PHL 620: Epistemology Dr. Philippe Yates Summer 2012 Holy Apostles College and Seminary. Summary. Background on Etienne Gilson. Overview of competing epistemologies. Critique of Cartesianism . Overview of Thomist Realism.

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The Thomistic Realism of Etienne Gilson

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  1. The Thomistic RealismofEtienne Gilson Steven Schultz PHL 620: Epistemology Dr. Philippe Yates Summer 2012 Holy Apostles College and Seminary

  2. Summary • Background on Etienne Gilson. • Overview of competing epistemologies. • Critique of Cartesianism. • Overview of Thomist Realism. • Why does it matter?

  3. Gilson’s Life • Born in Paris, June 13, 1884. • Minor seminary at Notre-Dame-des-Champs. • Began reading Descartes during military service. • Began academic work in philosophy. • Service during World War I. • Began postwar academic career. • Died on September 19, 1978.

  4. Gilson the Thomist?

  5. A Question of Universals • The central dividing line in philosophy. • Key question: What is the nature of ideas? • How do universals exist?

  6. Absolute Realism • Philosophy of Plato. • Universals exist by themselves. • Body is tomb of the soul. • Only ideas exist in unchanging perfection. • Individual things are only “likenesses.”

  7. Conceptualism • Kant’s modification of absolute realism. • Universals in mind as “form” or “category.” • Universals merely mental constructs. • Outside world unknowable. • Only know the Phenomenon. • Idealists: no outside reality.

  8. Nominalism • Denies existence of universals. • First developed by Roscelin in 11th century. • Ideas are “puffs of breath.” • Only two realities for nominalist: • Materialist • Idealist

  9. Moderate Realism • Classical Aristotelian and Thomistic position. • School of thought defended by Gilson. • Universals in mind; individuals outside. • Spirituality of intellect; matter/form composition.

  10. Dismissal of Scholasticism

  11. Descartes’ Reversal Being Knowing

  12. The Bridge Problem Mind Object

  13. Consciousness as Container

  14. Thomas vs. Descartes The Question of Consciousness

  15. Bi-Polarity of Consciousness Awareness Object Mind

  16. The Idealist Catoblepas

  17. Scholastic Epistemology?

  18. Realism over Idealism

  19. Why Does It Matter? Ideas have consequences.

  20. Final Thoughts For to love wisdom is also to love science, and prudence; it is to seek peace in the inner accord of each mind with itself and in the mutual accord of all minds. -- Etienne Gilson

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