A superb & useful discussion between intellectually honest men, that appears now to have become disallowed. The precepts of Darwinism & logical positivism stand defeated, yet are still taught in our schools in deference to actual truths in both science & religion. A sad fact.
While AJ Ayers came to criticize logical positivism which he initially championed in his book Language, Truth and Logic "Darwinism" which is really just the observations that led to the concept of natural selection is still the foundation of modern biology and has never been "defeated"
It's not clear to me why there cannot be a physical place re hell and heaven, or that literally Jesus cannot be seated at the right hand of the Father. I dont think we can know either way. I prefer Adler's position since it seems more in keeping with the mystery of the Faith.
I don't understand how someone as erudite as Dr. Adler could maintain such a patchy understanding of Islam, on display here when he mistakes al-Farabi for al-Ghazali, whom he means to compare with Ibn Rushd. Then proceeds to discuss Averroism, something that simply never existed and had been invented in the 1940s by Leo Strauss. To the Muslims, Ibn Rushd was primarily a jurist not a philosopher. To Aquinas he was a philosopher but not to a degree as to require a term like "Averroism"
Adler is another westerner so steeped in western thought that he really doesn't grasp eastern thought. There is less conflict between Buddhism and reasoned truth, for example, than there is between western monotheism and reasoned truth, but he doesn't get it. Adler's thought process is so confused and tortured that he asserts the opposite. Listening to these 2 only creates more confusion. One would profit more from listening to a discussion between a leading Buddhist like the Dalai Lama and a leading scientist. Or by reading Joseph Campbell, who Adler cites here but dismisses.
Joseph Campbell dismissed everything. He seemed to embrace evolutionary nihilism and Epicureanism in his Bill Moyers softball interview on PBS. His last book mocked the followers of Eastern religion. He was an atheist shill sent to deceive Western psuedo intellectuals like Bill Shatner and Jeff Probst and every other atheist who quotes "Follow your bliss!" as a dictum for lawlessness and hedonism.
Well as someone who has read Adler as well as the major Eastern philosophers and religions I cannot disagree with you more. Adler's thought processes are extremely logical and consistent and he had a firm grasp on nonwestern thought
Notice how civil and orderly this discussion was then. No name calling, mocking, personal attacks, or other late night monologue bombast.
Sadly, education in America has gone markedly downhill since this was recorded 30 years ago.
I must insist that you provide some evidence for that assertion.
Thank you for uploading this.
A superb & useful discussion between intellectually honest men, that appears now to have become disallowed. The precepts of Darwinism & logical positivism stand defeated, yet are still taught in our schools in deference to actual truths in both science & religion. A sad fact.
While AJ Ayers came to criticize logical positivism which he initially championed in his book Language, Truth and Logic "Darwinism" which is really just the observations that led to the concept of natural selection is still the foundation of modern biology and has never been "defeated"
Why not literally? What's the problem?
It's not clear to me why there cannot be a physical place re hell and heaven, or that literally Jesus cannot be seated at the right hand of the Father. I dont think we can know either way. I prefer Adler's position since it seems more in keeping with the mystery of the Faith.
A finite being cannot understand anything about an infinite being.
I don't understand how someone as erudite as Dr. Adler could maintain such a patchy understanding of Islam, on display here when he mistakes al-Farabi for al-Ghazali, whom he means to compare with Ibn Rushd. Then proceeds to discuss Averroism, something that simply never existed and had been invented in the 1940s by Leo Strauss. To the Muslims, Ibn Rushd was primarily a jurist not a philosopher. To Aquinas he was a philosopher but not to a degree as to require a term like "Averroism"
Kantian sophistry: Modern European unreason (anti-Americanism).
Adler is another westerner so steeped in western thought that he really doesn't grasp eastern thought.
There is less conflict between Buddhism and reasoned truth, for example, than there is between western monotheism and reasoned truth, but he doesn't get it.
Adler's thought process is so confused and tortured that he asserts the opposite.
Listening to these 2 only creates more confusion.
One would profit more from listening to a discussion between a leading Buddhist like the Dalai Lama and a leading scientist.
Or by reading Joseph Campbell, who Adler cites here but dismisses.
You are right djmcnerney!! I just don't think he had the intellectual ability to understand the Dharmic religions!!!
Joseph Campbell dismissed everything. He seemed to embrace evolutionary nihilism and Epicureanism in his Bill Moyers softball interview on PBS. His last book mocked the followers of Eastern religion. He was an atheist shill sent to deceive Western psuedo intellectuals like Bill Shatner and Jeff Probst and every other atheist who quotes "Follow your bliss!" as a dictum for lawlessness and hedonism.
Well as someone who has read Adler as well as the major Eastern philosophers and religions I cannot disagree with you more. Adler's thought processes are extremely logical and consistent and he had a firm grasp on nonwestern thought
Adler was a jew who does what comes natural, subvert.
You mean like Jesus?