PHIL 202 Catholic University of America The Dangers of Philosophy Discussion

PHIL 202 Catholic University of America The Dangers of Philosophy Discussion PHIL 202 Catholic University of America The Dangers of Philosophy Discussion ORDER NOW FOR CUSTOMIZED AND ORIGINAL NURSING PAPERS Unformatted Attachment Preview Essay : The Dangers of Philosophy The course description for Phil 201 claims that what we are doing in philosophy is risky. (The same claim is made about Phil 202 – yikes!) So . . . is philosophy dangerous? Argue for your answer to that question, based on what we read and talked about this semester. You must include some mention of Socrates in your answer, along with either Augustine or Aquinas. Points to consider: Socrates: • Socrates notes in the Apology that even though he thinks philosophy is the best life for man, he refuses to take part in politics as a way to promote philosophy.

His argument is that anyone who truly works for truth and justice, which is a kind of practice of philosophy, simply won’t last long or have any real effect. (Apology 31b-32a; p. 35-36) • The Athenians sentenced Socrates to death because Socrates refused to stop practicing philosophy. PHIL 202 Catholic University of America The Dangers of Philosophy Discussion Socrates accepts the verdict, drinks the hemlock, and dies at the order of the Athenian jury.

(esp. Apology 29d-3, p. 34) Augustine: • Augustine acknowledges the benefit of reading philosophy, noting that Cicero’s Hortentius inspired in him the pursuit of wisdom, and also that the works of the Platonists helped him to be able to think about things that are real but not material. Still, he struggled for years with various ideas about reality and God that he found in philosophy which he later judged to be false. (See especially Bk. 4 c. 16 and Bk. 7 c. 9.) • If happiness for man, according to Augustine, is to be found in union with God, which is effected through faith and forgiveness, both of which are gifts from God, then it might seem as if there is no role for reason to play when it comes to living a flourishing life as a human being. Aquinas: • Aquinas considers law as an ordinance of reason. He argues that natural law is a participation in the eternal law, and that human law is ultimately derived from natural law.

With regard to individual human action, it seems as if people can even forget natural law and act in ways that seem truly and fully evil, as Aquinas notes in Q. 94 a. 6. We also know that people can err collectively in their reasoning and make laws that are contrary to natural law. Someone might argue, then, that people would be better off if they simply did what God told them to do, without trying to use their own reason to figure things out (i.e. practicing philosophy). … Purchase answer to see full attachment Get a 10 % discount on an order above $ 100 Use the following coupon code : NURSING10

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