The article argues that the outcome of philosophical debate in classical Athens was often thought to have implications for our knowledge of the nature of the reality which we inhabit, and consequently, for the meaning of religion. Apparent failure to reach a satisfactory conclusion to an argument, was sometimes a conclusion which provided insight into the complex nature of reality.
Looked at in this way, philosophical argument about difficult and sometimes intractable problems is about developing an understanding of the nature of the reality in which the argument is intelligible, and which has implications for the meaning of religious thought and practice.
Not all philosophical questions have this kind of importance of course, but the practice of precise and forensic discussion of philosophical questions of any sort prepares the student for those questions which do. This was the main business of the Academy.
'Our Lady Underground: Aporia and Religious Thought' is a companion paper to 'Patterns of thought in Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age Britain', which is expected to be published in the Spring. The paper is discussed here. https://t.co/Nh0xxtvAeT
TY January 12, 2018.
