Wow. I wrote a comment on another Stack page I follow earlier today that seems to align with the concepts in the essay you're sharing. That page asks and explores, Do we really need to know how God works? Do we really need to know how nature works? And explores the value of acquired knowledge vs. simply observing nature in situ. Must we desire to know what God's motivations are? Did the pursuit of knowledge symbolized by Eve biting into the apple separate us from God and lead us to proclaim ourselves superior to God?
I believed he overlooked an important consideration. Here's my reply:
"Wisdom is much more important than knowledge. We've elevated knowledgeable "experts" above the wise devout. And are dearly paying for it.
You are sharing wisdom in your post. It is wise to heed God's designs for us using the tools God has provided us including learning with our brains...and our hearts. Knowing that our souls are eternally at his mercy. Wisdom is applying all three at the same time."
Mind you, I haven't studied the concepts you share here, the philosophies and history. Your presentation of these concepts seem to align with my simple organic assessment. Thank you for helping me develop my understanding.
I am in full agreement with your view here, as I suppose anyone whose heart and mind were right would too.
I expect the source of most objections to the value of philosophy, properly so-called (ie, “love of wisdom” is at the same time “wisdom of love”; philosophy is amator sapientae and sapientia amoris alike: the Greek philosophia is ambivalent, like the notorious duck-rabbit image) is captured in a paradox that Plato first identified but which Friedrich Schiller (author of “Ode to Joy”) captured in a supremely elegant formulation:
“he must already be wise in order to love wisdom.”
in other words, the expertocrats and technocrats and sorcerers and champions of scientism lack the wisdom to care about wisdom. regrettably, their unconcern is also our problem because we have to share the same planet with them. but what can we do for now other than strive to be “the voice of one crying in the wilderness?” which is a task I believe you have already taken on.
I seek knowledge ravenously. To learn and know what informs the expertocrats, technocrats and sorcerers and champions of scientism know. I'm compelled and driven to understand why they believe as they do and how they're applying their knowledge to recreate the world in their image.
And then I try to synthesize it all together, identify patterns of connection that may not be obvious to those who only skim the surface of seemingly unconnected ideas and data points. I believe I'm pretty good at that and getting better with practice and a wider knowledge base. With the goal of presenting the acquired knowledge through a portal that's accessible to others in the wilderness who don't have the time to study, the basis, experiences or capacity to synthesize and spot patterns as God gave me the gifts to process. With the heart and love for humanity that the crats, sorcerers and scientists lack, believing they are serving man but without first serving God.
We've got a lot of work ahead. But the point of still being able to sit and observe nature in situ is one I can forget to do with my unquenchable thirst for knowledge. My biggest challenge/opportunity, the grounding and clarity that provides.
thank you, Stewart(?). I have read MotT more than once, but the last time was close to 10 years ago such that it is hard for me to recall specific content but without a doubt the influence of Tomberg’s work continues to exert its influence on my thinking.
Wow. I wrote a comment on another Stack page I follow earlier today that seems to align with the concepts in the essay you're sharing. That page asks and explores, Do we really need to know how God works? Do we really need to know how nature works? And explores the value of acquired knowledge vs. simply observing nature in situ. Must we desire to know what God's motivations are? Did the pursuit of knowledge symbolized by Eve biting into the apple separate us from God and lead us to proclaim ourselves superior to God?
I believed he overlooked an important consideration. Here's my reply:
"Wisdom is much more important than knowledge. We've elevated knowledgeable "experts" above the wise devout. And are dearly paying for it.
You are sharing wisdom in your post. It is wise to heed God's designs for us using the tools God has provided us including learning with our brains...and our hearts. Knowing that our souls are eternally at his mercy. Wisdom is applying all three at the same time."
Mind you, I haven't studied the concepts you share here, the philosophies and history. Your presentation of these concepts seem to align with my simple organic assessment. Thank you for helping me develop my understanding.
thank you, @FreedomFox.
I am in full agreement with your view here, as I suppose anyone whose heart and mind were right would too.
I expect the source of most objections to the value of philosophy, properly so-called (ie, “love of wisdom” is at the same time “wisdom of love”; philosophy is amator sapientae and sapientia amoris alike: the Greek philosophia is ambivalent, like the notorious duck-rabbit image) is captured in a paradox that Plato first identified but which Friedrich Schiller (author of “Ode to Joy”) captured in a supremely elegant formulation:
“he must already be wise in order to love wisdom.”
in other words, the expertocrats and technocrats and sorcerers and champions of scientism lack the wisdom to care about wisdom. regrettably, their unconcern is also our problem because we have to share the same planet with them. but what can we do for now other than strive to be “the voice of one crying in the wilderness?” which is a task I believe you have already taken on.
“…Make his paths straight!”
Indeed, as you have.
I seek knowledge ravenously. To learn and know what informs the expertocrats, technocrats and sorcerers and champions of scientism know. I'm compelled and driven to understand why they believe as they do and how they're applying their knowledge to recreate the world in their image.
And then I try to synthesize it all together, identify patterns of connection that may not be obvious to those who only skim the surface of seemingly unconnected ideas and data points. I believe I'm pretty good at that and getting better with practice and a wider knowledge base. With the goal of presenting the acquired knowledge through a portal that's accessible to others in the wilderness who don't have the time to study, the basis, experiences or capacity to synthesize and spot patterns as God gave me the gifts to process. With the heart and love for humanity that the crats, sorcerers and scientists lack, believing they are serving man but without first serving God.
We've got a lot of work ahead. But the point of still being able to sit and observe nature in situ is one I can forget to do with my unquenchable thirst for knowledge. My biggest challenge/opportunity, the grounding and clarity that provides.
You simply must look at the Meditations on the Tarot (free PDF online) and look at this exact theme!
thank you, Stewart(?). I have read MotT more than once, but the last time was close to 10 years ago such that it is hard for me to recall specific content but without a doubt the influence of Tomberg’s work continues to exert its influence on my thinking.
“The mean man does not know the ordinances of Heaven, and consequently does not stand in awe of them."
—Confucius