I first heard you lecture as a freshman nearly 20 years ago. I still find myself listening to you lectures thanks to your channel. Thank you Professor Bonevac.
In my younger years I was much closer to god. When I got introduced to western philosophy and ultimately the eastern doctrine, I felt like I was seeking for truth that for some reason couldn’t be explained by a bible or a sermon. I needed to go through the concepts explained my western philosophy. Now I wish I could go back when I was being choked by life; when the only thing I sought was the light and a bit of relief. I needed all of these concepts. Although the order was very non-linear, I think it worked out. I can safely say that I found god. I keep seeking god everyday, because one does not simply know the true nature of it. It just slowly gets revealed as I investigate it more.
You sound dogmatic. There is no certainty that God or Gods exists. Philosophy should have taught you that. It sounds like you're experiencing the cruel truth of the human condition and you're are ignoring it by appealing to religion.
ihossi22 Obviously I know that, but it feels better to live in this state of believing in a god. Everyone finds their methods to get through life, you should respect mine and accept them since I’m not enforcing them on you.
@@JuanRodriguez-tr6st, I think your initial comment was thought provoking particularly in the context of Augustine's Confessions since it reveals the spiritual life requires maturation. For me, exposure to Augustinian philosophy reveals a person can be firmly theistic and rational (a strong premise for Western "linear" philosophical traditions). Augustine is all of those things, and he is mystical in his desire for a unitive prayer life with the Divine. A "surrender" if you will, to the Love of God. For "Eastern doctrine" (by which I am assuming you mean Buddhism, Confucianism, etc), I think the question becomes can one "save" oneself through intense self effort, or as Augustine might argue, require a participation in the Divine redemption. Surprisingly, there is in Christianity a good moderate position between the desire to be completely one with God (mysticism), worship, and salvation emphasized in Western Christianity (represented by Augustine). This would be Eastern Orthodoxy, Eastern Catholicism (yes there is such a thing), and in the West, the Franciscan tradition. Sorry for the long reply. Just thought your comment was very good.
Võ Đức Quang Sir, thanks for the reply and the input; I’m just pointing out what I went through with my experiences. This is actually the first ever exposure I get to Augustine. I actually went through a brief period where I abandone my faith (Roman catholic). Then, came to your initial conclusion sometime ago. I’ve always been afraid of my beliefs contradicting each pother. But I’ve never felt any cognitive dissonance or mental discomfort in knowing some doctrines I chose to embody completely do just that. I think at some point, we may just accept things like Augustinians philosophy and just get used to the thought it? This could be the same thing as surrendering to the grace of god. Who knows, but this relief of wholeness and knowing my identity can’t get attained in any other way. Maybe more insights will be revealed along this journey.... Glad to see your response and own input. Juan
2:15 in the Metaphysics Aristotle says that our thinking and good life is small compare to God's, and since God is also the primary actuality and substance, I don't think Aristotle's world view is so anthropocentric
Good point. It's surprising, given that, that God plays little role in the Nicomachean Ethics-though maybe it plays a role in Book X, on the life of contemplation.
@@PhiloofAlexandria :) yeah. But Ethics is about man, character, and while in both Metaphysics and Ethics God plays a conceptually central role, Aristotle does not spend a lot of chapters on God. I guess he likes to stick to the empirical /necessary / humble (like a good philosopher). But another reason why Aristotle is not as anthropocentric as one might think is, in my mind, that the teleological mode of explanation, which could be interpreted as anthropocentric (you didn't do that, but far too many do), is as I read him more inspired by nature (foreshadowing evolution and biology that interpret functions in the organisms, i.e. causal feedback loops that stay in the genes/organism because they "work"). I know you just simplified a little in the video, which is fine, I just have this personal love for Aristotle and would like for the modern age to look more kindly to him than we've done since natural / mathematical science came along. :)
I think it's the ecstasy of contemplative prayer which Augustine infuses into his writing. For me, it's "borderline sexual" because it's analogous to the vulnerability, self-giving, and contentment of the sexual act. The relationship between the Divine and temporal presented in imagery most people would know, ie the intensity of love (in all its forms). It's also a common feature of the mystic language in order to describe (however inadequately) the desire to unite completely to the Divine. Think the religious interpretation of Song of Songs, the imagery of mystical wedding between God and His people in Revelation, etc.
I first heard you lecture as a freshman nearly 20 years ago. I still find myself listening to you lectures thanks to your channel. Thank you Professor Bonevac.
If you enjoyed this look up a brief annotated version by Dr Nick Mullen
Everyday we learn something new about God
Good representation of Augustin's thought here! ThanX.
In my younger years I was much closer to god. When I got introduced to western philosophy and ultimately the eastern doctrine, I felt like I was seeking for truth that for some reason couldn’t be explained by a bible or a sermon. I needed to go through the concepts explained my western philosophy. Now I wish I could go back when I was being choked by life; when the only thing I sought was the light and a bit of relief. I needed all of these concepts. Although the order was very non-linear, I think it worked out. I can safely say that I found god. I keep seeking god everyday, because one does not simply know the true nature of it. It just slowly gets revealed as I investigate it more.
You sound dogmatic. There is no certainty that God or Gods exists. Philosophy should have taught you that. It sounds like you're experiencing the cruel truth of the human condition and you're are ignoring it by appealing to religion.
ihossi22 Obviously I know that, but it feels better to live in this state of believing in a god. Everyone finds their methods to get through life, you should respect mine and accept them since I’m not enforcing them on you.
@@JuanRodriguez-tr6st, I think your initial comment was thought provoking particularly in the context of Augustine's Confessions since it reveals the spiritual life requires maturation. For me, exposure to Augustinian philosophy reveals a person can be firmly theistic and rational (a strong premise for Western "linear" philosophical traditions). Augustine is all of those things, and he is mystical in his desire for a unitive prayer life with the Divine. A "surrender" if you will, to the Love of God.
For "Eastern doctrine" (by which I am assuming you mean Buddhism, Confucianism, etc), I think the question becomes can one "save" oneself through intense self effort, or as Augustine might argue, require a participation in the Divine redemption. Surprisingly, there is in Christianity a good moderate position between the desire to be completely one with God (mysticism), worship, and salvation emphasized in Western Christianity (represented by Augustine). This would be Eastern Orthodoxy, Eastern Catholicism (yes there is such a thing), and in the West, the Franciscan tradition.
Sorry for the long reply. Just thought your comment was very good.
Võ Đức Quang Sir, thanks for the reply and the input; I’m just pointing out what I went through with my experiences. This is actually the first ever exposure I get to Augustine. I actually went through a brief period where I abandone my faith (Roman catholic). Then, came to your initial conclusion sometime ago. I’ve always been afraid of my beliefs contradicting each pother. But I’ve never felt any cognitive dissonance or mental discomfort in knowing some doctrines I chose to embody completely do just that. I think at some point, we may just accept things like Augustinians philosophy and just get used to the thought it? This could be the same thing as surrendering to the grace of god. Who knows, but this relief of wholeness and knowing my identity can’t get attained in any other way. Maybe more insights will be revealed along this journey.... Glad to see your response and own input.
Juan
Great lecture, looking forward to more of these. Thank you professor
Very interesting.
Thanks for the info
thank you so much!!!
You're welcome!
2:15 in the Metaphysics Aristotle says that our thinking and good life is small compare to God's, and since God is also the primary actuality and substance, I don't think Aristotle's world view is so anthropocentric
Good point. It's surprising, given that, that God plays little role in the Nicomachean Ethics-though maybe it plays a role in Book X, on the life of contemplation.
@@PhiloofAlexandria :) yeah. But Ethics is about man, character, and while in both Metaphysics and Ethics God plays a conceptually central role, Aristotle does not spend a lot of chapters on God. I guess he likes to stick to the empirical /necessary / humble (like a good philosopher). But another reason why Aristotle is not as anthropocentric as one might think is, in my mind, that the teleological mode of explanation, which could be interpreted as anthropocentric (you didn't do that, but far too many do), is as I read him more inspired by nature (foreshadowing evolution and biology that interpret functions in the organisms, i.e. causal feedback loops that stay in the genes/organism because they "work"). I know you just simplified a little in the video, which is fine, I just have this personal love for Aristotle and would like for the modern age to look more kindly to him than we've done since natural / mathematical science came along. :)
Wow
When people speak about God, it sounds borderline sexual.
I think it's the ecstasy of contemplative prayer which Augustine infuses into his writing. For me, it's "borderline sexual" because it's analogous to the vulnerability, self-giving, and contentment of the sexual act. The relationship between the Divine and temporal presented in imagery most people would know, ie the intensity of love (in all its forms). It's also a common feature of the mystic language in order to describe (however inadequately) the desire to unite completely to the Divine. Think the religious interpretation of Song of Songs, the imagery of mystical wedding between God and His people in Revelation, etc.
You're confusing sex with passion.