The Thomistic Institute Beyond Scientism: Philosophical Knowing | Fr. James Brent, O.P.
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Nov 8, 2018 Fr. James Brent, O.P., discusses the limitations of scientism and the importance of philosophical wisdom. He explores the implications of reducing knowledge to material units, challenges in justifying moral claims through science, and the search for ultimate truths beyond empirical observation.
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Wisdom of the World
- 'Wisdom of the world' (sapiencia mundi) refers to totalizing claims about reality, like naturalism.
- St. Paul warned against philosophies explaining everything through material units.
Naturalism Defined
- Naturalism posits nature as all there is, a single spatiotemporal system.
- This excludes non-physical entities like angels, God, and souls.
Physicalism Defined
- Physicalism asserts that only physical entities exist, raising questions about what 'physical' means.
- Armstrong defines it as entities recognized by physics, tying reality to a specific discipline.