Peter’s Comments (group member since Oct 26, 2007)

Peter’s comments from the Medieval Philosophy group.

The Metaphysics of Media: Toward an End of Postmodern Cynicism and the Construction of a Virtuous Reality

Thanks to all for great discussions. Thought you might be interested in (at least part of) the results of some of those discussions.

Aiieeeeee!!!!

Geez, I'm going nuts. I can't believe people actually enjoy reading some of this stuff.

Actually, yes, that and the reading I've continued doing over the last few weeks. Thanks Coyle. When I've got my thoughts a bit more organized, I'll throw them out and see if they make sense to anyone.

Here's what I'm still not seeing: it's easy to see, for instance, the differences between Aristotle and his teacher Plato. While they shared a method (dialectic) in common, the focus of their investigations could not have been more different. Plato's dualistic approach looked to the world of forms for answers about physical reality. Aristotle believed in a monistic nature that would open itself up to us through observation and reason.

Augustine (and the Church) adopted the Platonic approach. I've never heard Aquinas referred to as a Platonist, but he sure isn't (to my eyes and ears) an Aristotelian.

Now (and I'm already saying a prayer of thanks for your patience), I'm just not seeing any fundamental difference between Augustine and Aquinas. Or perhaps it is this: if I do "see" such difference, it is more intuitive than rational, and I can't put it into words.

Can anyone help me?

Yes, yes, but (at the risk of being contentious) why?

Now, I'm reading them both, and I'm reading commentaries about both. And I can see the essential differences in their approaches. I'm even seeing the essential differences in their conclusions. What I'm not seeing is any essential difference in their significance to the development of medieval philosophy or theology.

This is not my normal milieu. What am I missing?