Autor: Lonergan, Bernard J.F.

Buch: A Third Collection

Titel: A Third Collection

Stichwort: 5 Punkte bezüglich des Verhältnisses zwischen Aristoteles (Logik, Analytica Posteriora) und Methode

Kurzinhalt: Posterior Analytics (Aristotle, Thomas); that method, so far from excluding logic, includes it; Thomas als Lehrer (teacher);

Textausschnitt: 41/4 I now must add five observations. Three of them are theoretical. Two of them are factual. But the five together will help us make the turn from "Aristotle Today" to "Aristotle in Aquinas." (47; Fs)

42/4 The first of the theoretical observations is that method, so far from excluding logic, includes it. It adds to logic such nonlogical operations as observing, describing, comparing, stumbling on problems, discovering solutions, devising tests, checking results. But integral to such nonlogical operations there are within method itself the properly logical operations of defining terms, formulating hypotheses, working out presuppositions, and inferring conclusions. (47f; Fs) (notabene)(notabene)

43/4 The second of the theoretical observations is that inferences can be explanatory without their premises being necessarily true. Fourteenth-century theologians were very accurate logicians and they rightly contended that what necessarily is true would be true in every possible world. But modern scientists are content with explanations that hold in this world. Indeed, they are content to claim that the explanations they offer are the best available at the present time. (48; Fs)
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46/4 On three theoretical there follow two factual observations. The first is that Aristotle in his own writings left necessary premises and conclusions to the mathematicians. His own rule was to seek in each subject no greater exactitude than the matter permitted. In his eyes it was just as silly to ask a politician for demonstrations as to accept plausible reasons from a mathematician. (48; Fs)

47/4 Our second factual observation is very brief. It is that the theology of Aquinas was not more influenced by the Posterior Analytics than was the philosophy of Aristotle. It is true that Aquinas quoted the Analytics much more than Aristotle did. But it also is true that he was not thereby caught in the implications of that work. For the implications depend upon essential predication, and Aquinas consistently denied that we knew either the essence of God or the substance of material objects. (48f; Fs) (notabene)