Faith & Reason: Kierkegaard, Clifford, & Aquinas ~ slide 1 Kierkegaard & Fideism Søren Kierkegaard (Danish, 1813-1855) Two ways of knowing Objective Subjective Which is appropriate for religious faith? Religious truth: “the venture which chooses an objective uncertainty with passion of the infinite” (83). Faith & Reason: Kierkegaard, Clifford, & Aquinas ~ slide 1

Faith & Reason: Kierkegaard, Clifford, & Aquinas ~ slide 2 drawing of Kierkegaard by his 2nd cousin, Niels Christian Kierkegaard c. 1840 Royal Library, Copenhagen Faith & Reason: Kierkegaard, Clifford, & Aquinas ~ slide 2

Faith & Reason: Kierkegaard, Clifford, & Aquinas ~ slide 3 Kierkegaard & Fideism Faith & risk & dread Faith & the absurd Critical evaluation of Fideism How does one decide which religious faith to jump to? The value of Fideism: religious faith is more than assent to cognitive claims; involves passion & trust & relationship with a person Faith & Reason: Kierkegaard, Clifford, & Aquinas ~ slide 3

Clifford’s Hard rationalism & evidentialism William Clifford (English, 1845-1879) Story about ship owner Conclusion: The ship owner had “no right to believe on such evidence as was before him” & it was morally wrong for him to believe that it was safe to sail (Peterson 66). Faith & Reason: Kierkegaard, Clifford, & Aquinas ~ slide 4

Clifford’s Hard rationalism & evidentialism Clifford anticipates some objections The actions were immoral, not the beliefs. Clifford’s response: Belief & action cannot be separated; beliefs often, almost always, spill over into action Hence all beliefs have a social dimension; they affect the lives of others. Faith & Reason: Kierkegaard, Clifford, & Aquinas ~ slide 5

Clifford’s Hard rationalism & evidentialism This is why beliefs may be morally good or bad. Therefore one has a moral obligation to accept only those beliefs based on evidence & careful reasoning (Peterson 69). If evidence is lacking, one should withhold belief. Faith & Reason: Kierkegaard, Clifford, & Aquinas ~ slide 6

Clifford’s Hard rationalism & evidentialism Application of his position to religion? Critique of Clifford’s position One may make an intellectual mistake & not be morally wrong for making such a mistake. There is a difference between an intellectual mistake & a moral evil. Faith & Reason: Kierkegaard, Clifford, & Aquinas ~ slide 7

Clifford’s Hard rationalism & evidentialism We often must act without sufficient knowledge (e.g., practice of medicine). In his tacit application of his position to religion, he assumes that religious faith is a leap beyond reason & evidence. John Polkinghorne: “You don’t have to commit intellectual suicide to be a person of religious faith.” Faith & Reason: Kierkegaard, Clifford, & Aquinas ~ slide 8

Clifford’s Hard rationalism & evidentialism Cover Ibn Rushd here Faith & Reason: Kierkegaard, Clifford, & Aquinas ~ slide 9

Aquinas on faith & reason The harmony position Thomas Aquinas (Italian, 1225-1274) Two kinds of propositions about God Faith & Reason: Kierkegaard, Clifford, & Aquinas ~ slide 10

Aquinas on faith & reason Arguments for the appropriateness that although truths about God are available through human reason, these same truths are also available through revelation (reason & revelation) Faith & Reason: Kierkegaard, Clifford, & Aquinas ~ slide 11

Aquinas on faith & reason 1. The pragmatic argument 2. Argument based on the frailty of human reason Arguments for the appropriateness that there are some truths about God which are beyond human reason (revelation only) [1. Argument based on the satisfaction of the transcendent nature of humans] Faith & Reason: Kierkegaard, Clifford, & Aquinas ~ slide 12

Aquinas on faith & reason 2. Argument for richness of our knowledge of God 3. Argument for plausibility that knowledge of God would be beyond the abilities of human reason On the relationship between religious faith & reason: the harmony position (Peterson et al 62-63) Principle vs practice Faith & Reason: Kierkegaard, Clifford, & Aquinas ~ slide 13

Aquinas on faith & reason Concluding overview of Aquinas’s position 1. Faith precedes reason 2. Reason alone cannot arrive at many of the propositions of religious faith; but once these propositions are available (by revelation), reason can show that they are reasonable. Faith & Reason: Kierkegaard, Clifford, & Aquinas ~ slide 14

Aquinas on faith & reason 3. Religious faith is partly proposition; it makes truth-claims 4. In principle, religious faith & reason are in harmony. 5. In practice, they may conflict but when they do, reason must be wrong. Faith & Reason: Kierkegaard, Clifford, & Aquinas ~ slide 15

Aquinas on faith & reason Critique of Aquinas On # 5, in view of our 20th century awareness of the historicity of the development of dogma & of the interpretation of scripture, why not say that in cases of conflict, both religious faith & reason must reassess their positions? Faith & Reason: Kierkegaard, Clifford, & Aquinas ~ slide 16