Implications of the Incarnation on the History of Philosophy, Part 1: Plato vs. Aristotle
Plato's Allegory of the Cave
I have been teaching a class at the Encore Program of NC State University contrasting the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche with orthodox Protestant Christianity. The class has been a real delight so far and I will do a series on it here in the coming weeks. Something struck me though both as I was lecturing and then later during some further over lunch…
Background and Introduction
…There are some remarkable implications of the Incarnation to the history of philosophy. By way of introduction and background, the history of (western) philosophy can be summarized as an ongoing debate between Plato and Aristotle.
In short, Plato (428-348 BC) put forth the idea that the metaphysical world is more knowable than the physical world. Following Socrates, Plato illustrates this idea through allegory of the cave, where there is a group of humans chained in a cave, facing a blank wall, where a fire illuminates shadow puppets on this blank wall (see illustration above). The idea is that this physical world we reside in is merely a shadow of a more real and more knowable world that is not physical but metaphysical. From here Plato posits the idea of the Forms. Take for example a chair that is sitting in front of you. Plato asks you, ‘how do you know that his is a ‘chair’?' You might say something to the effect, ‘well, it has more than three legs, has a place to be seated, armrests, and backing… is it not obvious that this is a chair.’ Plato would tell us that we know that it is a chair because there exists in our minds an ideal chair and the reason we know that the thing before us is a chair, is because of its resemblance to the archetypal chair. That archetypal chair is the Form of chair. In short, we have knowledge of physical things here and now because of the resemblance of these physical things to their ideal metaphysical Form.
In contrast, Aristotle denies that the Forms exist way out there in the metaphysical realm – the Form of the chair is actually residing in the chair sitting in front of you.
So, the battle lines are drawn for a 2400 year long conversation/debate/dialogue in the West (the reason Immanuel Kant is so revered in philosophy is for his attempt to synthesize Plato and Aristotle). Is knowledge of a thing transcendent (Plato) or is it immanent (Aristotle)? Is the nature of all things Being (Plato) or Becoming (Aristotle)?
Implications of the Incarnation
The Incarnation solves this dichotomy, not with words, logic, or an argument… but with a person! Jesus is the God-man, one person with two natures (Hypostatic Union). Jesus bridges the gap between the physical and the metaphysical. In his person, he is both transcendent and immanent simultaneously. Jesus is the divine logos united with a real human body.
So, is God near to us or is He lofty and far away?
Yes.
ps.I think Kant could have saved a good deal of time if he had just looked for the answer to philosophy’s greatest question by looking at his first name, Immanuel. God with us.
Video of Tim Tebow Superbowl Ad
Update: so apparently the above version was not the one played in the Superbowl, this one below is the one that aired. Not sure which I like better. Not sure what all the fuss is about, both are pretty vanilla. I don’t think the culture wars will be dying down anytime soon.
Also, a much longer video with Bob and Pam Tebow give much more back-story of their pregnancy with Tim is worth watching here.
Thoughts?
Best Links of the Week
The Problematic Path of a Graduate Degree in the Humanities
I am starting a new installment of this blog for the best links of the week. They will typically be in accordance with the major topics discussed here (theology, philosophy, culture, economics, and politics). Depending on how many good articles were out on the net, the number of links will vary. Enjoy.
1. “Graduate School in the Humanities: Just Don’t Go“: controversial, informative, and lucid look at the current status of graduate school humanities programs and the dysfunctionality of finding work thereafter.
2. MSNBC article on Matt Chandler’s battle with cancer – there are some strange things about this story involving him punching a healthcare provider… Also excellent is a year old article by John Piper entitled, “Don’t Waste Your Cancer.”
3. Previously mentioned article by pro-choice Sally Jenkins (Washington Post) defending Pam/Tim Tebow’s Superbowl Ad.
4. “Haiti Three Weeks Later“: absolutely stirring images from the Boston Globes excellent photo-essay segment “The Big Picture.”
5. Pew Survey on Social Networking: Teens Love Facebook, Hate Blogging, Are Always Online, and Don’t Use Twitter
6. Newsweek on the ineffectiveness of Anti-Depressants. Not sure I share the conclusions, but interesting article.
7. “A Christian Nation“: article exploring relationship between Christianity and pop-culture and how we are highly marketed to. There are weaknesses to the author’s argumentation but interesting nonetheless to get an outsiders view of Christianity and pop-culture.
8. “Should Conan, Goldman Sachs send megabucks to Haiti?“: Interesting proposal.
9. “The Rise of the Calvinists“: article exploring Scott Brown’s theological convictions as a member of a CRC church.
Tim Tebow Superbowl Ad Redux
Tim Tebow Superbowl Redux
Here is an excellent article from a pro-choice journalist providing some fresh air to the whole Superbowl commercial debate. The article argues persuasively that Tim Tebow is good for women and not the other way around.
On a sidenote, I have never understood why liberals are big government on everything except abortion. For whatever reason, they appeal to small government and personal liberty when it comes to this issue. I suppose logical consistency can be sacrificed for rationalizing sin.
Desiring God Pastors’ Conference Live Video
2010 Desiring God Pastor's Conference
Bored? Snowed in? School canceled?
The entire Desiring God Pastors’ Conference (The Pastor, the People, and the Pursuit of Joy: The Apostolic Aim of Pastoral Ministry) can be seen here live.
Here is the schedule (keep in mind that all times are CST):
Monday (Feb. 1)
7:00-8:30 PM / Sam Storms
Tuesday (Feb. 2)
8:30-10:00 AM / Eric Mason
10:30-11:30 AM / Sam Storms
1:45-3:00 PM / John Piper (on C.S. Lewis)
7:00-8:30 PM / Sam Storms
Wednesday (Feb. 3)
8:30-10:00 AM / Bob Blincoe (world missions)
10:30-11:30 AM / Speaker Panel Q&A
Obama Considering Anti-Trust Breakup of BCS
Superman Obama Going to Fix College Football
The never ending march of new government continues into the realm of sports. Sports Illustrated is reporting that President Obama is considering what anti-trust laws can affect with regards to the Bowl Championship Series and whether such laws could promote a playoff system in Division 1 NCAA Football. Regardless of what you feel about a playoff vs. the BCS system; this kind of government intrusion into sports is unwelcome. The only way you should be ok with this intrusion is if you legitimately believe that the BCS violates current anti-trust laws.
Justification Sola Granola
Saved by Granola Alone
Doug Wilson has some keen cultural insights into the current sub-cultural preoccupation with natural ‘hipster’ foods. This is not all that different from the overlapping sub-cultures that claim salvation through recycling (sola recycling), and salvation through carbon neutral footprint (sola climata). In the interest of self-disclosure, I do shop at Whole Foods, mainly due to Celiac Disease though. I think there is some merit to some less-industrialized, less-processed food, however, Wilson’s cultural analysis is still keen and, in my view, correct.
Best of YouTube
So, who doesn’t love to have a little YouTube session now and then. I was recently back with some old college friends and it brought up some favorites:
Humorous (Intentionally or Unintentionally):
Somebody set us up the bomb. One of the first “viral” videos.
Chocolate Rain – No one really knows what Chocolate Rain is, but it got Tay Zonday to get on tour with The Arcade Fire.
Whistle Tips with Bubb Rubb and Lil’ Sis’ – Woo Woo.
David After Dentist – “Is this real life?…”
Leprechaun in Mobile, Alabama – I love the amatuer sketch and the leprechaun flute. The “Gimme da Gold” video is also good.
Tom Cruise Scientology Video – I wasn’t sure which category to put this under. He is very very strange, like when…
Tom Cruise Couch Jumping on Oprah
Iconic:
Obama Pay for My Gas and Mortgage – Who would have thought that her prediction would have come true.
Miss Teen South Carolina – I kind of feel bad for her.
Boom Goes the Dynamite – I kind of feel bad for him too.
Star Wars Kid – …him too.
‘Don’t Tase Me Bro’ – This one was hard to watch. Strange that this happened at my alma mater.
Uncanny Talents:
Prison inmates in the Philipines do the Michael Jackson thriller dance.
Ok Go – Here it Goes Again (Treadmill Video)
Insane Robot Dance – I have never seen anything quite like the slow-motion effect around 1:15.
What did I miss?
Compassion Intl Leader Uses iPhone App to Treat Wounds…
American Heart Association iPhone App
CNN has a strange and incredible story of Haiti earthquake survivor, Dan Woolley. He is a father of two, and a project leader for Compassion International. Evidently, Woolley had an iPhone app from the American Heart Association and employed it for a kind of self-triage of treating wounds, setting bones, and avoiding shock. Who needs Bear Grylls when you’ve got an iPhone… ‘massive bleeding and broken bones… we’ve got an app for that.’
You can’t make this stuff up.
Chandler Parsons Does it Again
First it was the 70+ footer against NCSU (sorry to my Wolfpack friends), now he scores another buzzer beater against South Carolina. Sick.
