Monday, October 10, 2005

Edward C. Feser writes an interesting article titled, "Metaphysics and Morality", that outlines fundamental problems in modern cultural discourse.

Here's the introduction:

"There is a tendency in recent philosophy to assume that moral reasoning can be carried on more or less in isolation from controversial issues in metaphysics. The assumption is that questions about justice, rights, virtue, and vice can largely be settled independently of questions about, say, the nature of the mind and its relationship to the body, personal identity, or even the existence of God. Liberalism encourages this attitude, since it seeks a conception of justice that is “neutral” between competing religious and philosophical worldviews, and thus assumes that such a conception is out there waiting to be found. The motive for such a view is obvious: metaphysical questions are often so contentious and difficult to settle that it would be nice if we could get on in our practical affairs without having to settle them. It would be nice, that is to say, if we could decide what to believe about matters of right and wrong without having to decide what to believe about questions concerning the nature of ultimate reality. There is one problem with the view, however: it is manifestly false."

It mirrors the early days on Grandpa John's.

1 comment:

Al said...

Oh, how I long for those early days...