When I first started teaching philosophy courses at St. John’s University, Jamaica, many years ago, I believed strongly in the benefits that a contemporary student might derive from studying philosophy. My own study of philosophy had convinced me that I knew some important truths, and I wanted to communicate those truths to others.
I have never accepted the caricature of philosophy as an ethereal, excessively speculative and abstract study that has little if any importance in a person’s life.
Life-changing Insights
The study of philosophy, I believe, should be a life-changer. My own study of philosophy, both as an undergraduate and as a graduate student, enriched my life immeasurably. The many years that I have been teaching philosophy have led to new insights into myself, freedom, truth, love and into the mystery of God.
Re-reading Jesuit Father John Kavanaugh’s “Following Christ in a Consumer Society” (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, revised edition, 1991, pp. 194) has strengthened my commitment to challenge students in philosophy classes at St. John’s University. Studying philosophy is one way that we can enter more deeply into the interior depths of who we are.
Discouraging Reflection
Much in our consumer society almost seems militant in discouraging deep reflection on what is most important in life. When we become aware of that, we should do what we can to not to be seduced. Socrates was correct when he pointed out more than 2,000 years ago that the unexamined life is not worth living. Father Kavanaugh writes the following:
“A thing does not possess, nor is it known by self-reflection, internal consciousness, or another method of interiority. Instrumental intelligence, technical knowledge or quasi-mechanical cognition characterize our knowing of a thing. These qualities also characterize ‘knowing’ by a thing, and it is on this level that some scientists have attributed ‘intelligence’ to computers. Interiority or self-reflection is rarely being recognized as the distinctively radical foundation of human intellectual knowledge. The basic ways of knowing an object are external observation, external measurement, prediction, manipulation, and quantification …
“The texture and nature of our immediate experiences (the condition of any scientific knowledge in the first place), our consciousness of freedom, our experience of love, compassion, and hope, our longing for fidelity or equity, are all called into question because they cannot be verified by the methods of instrumental commodity-knowledge.” (pp. 38-39)
Emphasis on Things
Unfortunately, because of the emphasis on things, we start trying to know ourselves, other persons and even God the way we know things. We evaluate ourselves and other persons the way we evaluate things. What is especially frightening to me is the fear that if we cannot be receptive to the mystery of another human person, we may not be able to be open to the mystery of God.
There are many experiences that can open us to the mystery of God. Prayer, of course, is one. In my own life philosophy has also been one. Over the years I have taught several different philosophy courses.
Among the topics covered through the years were the philosophy of person, ethics, the philosophy of religion, ancient philosophy, medieval philosophy, modern philosophy, the philosophy and theology of Karl Rahner, the philosophy and theology of John Henry Newman, psychology and philosophy seminar, existentialism, personalism, philosophy of literature, philosophy and film and “the problem of God.”
Taking this trip down memory lane has reminded me how much I benefited from teaching these courses. Every course either explicitly or implicitly dealt with the mystery of the human person and the mystery of God. Though I am sure that every one of these courses could have been taught better, I hope students were helped to be more reflective. I know I was helped to be more reflective by teaching them.
Interior Nourishment
If Father Kavanaugh’s analysis of contemporary society is correct, and I think it is, then we should take every opportunity to nourish our interior lives, either through religious practices such as prayer, or through educational opportunities such as reading great literature, experiencing great art on the stage or screen or listening to great music.
Any experience of depth should be welcomed. We may be hesitant to be in touch with the depth of ourselves, perhaps even a little frightened. Much in our consumer culture can distract us from reflecting seriously on what is most important in our lives. When we do seriously reflect on our existence, we may become aware of how finite and fragile we are. Such awareness can scare us.
However, if we include in our reflection on ourselves an awareness of the loving God Who keeps us in existence, Who died for us, Who lives within us and Who constantly surrounds us with love, then what was initially frightening may appear absolutely marvelous and beautiful.
Father Robert Lauder, philosophy professor at St. John’s University, Jamaica, is the author of the recently published “Pope Francis’ Spirituality and Our Story” (Resurrection Press).