For my pals at Korrektiv

Pax

The Dumb Ox . . .

Who changed the World!

Today we celebrate the Feast Day of St. Thomas Aquinas whose nick name among the men he attended college classes with was "the dumb ox" both for his size and for the labored way in which he thought out each statement before he made them.

Can you imagine what our faith or the world for that matter would be like without the legacy that this "dumb ox" left behind? Not only his catechetical legacy but his spiritual one as well.

We should all be so deliberate in choosing our words, I think.

Happy Feast Day to Thomas.

Happy Feast Day to us all.

Pax

The History of Western Philosophy in Six Easy Questions

With a tip of the hat to my amazing daughter Katy who found this on the internet and sent it to me via facebook. She knows just how to make me laugh.

Pax

A Resounding Echo to Prove Personhood

Philosopher Peter Kreeft presents the arguments commonly used to explain why the unborn child is not a human person and then shows clearly and simply why each of these arguments cannot possibly be true.

Read the entire article here.

If we had studied philosophers like him in my modern philosophy class I might have actually learned something.

Pax

Stick a Fork in My Philosophy Studies . . .

I AM DONE!

Just a few minutes ago I completed the last assignments for both classes and am leaving this afternoon to sit through my last two days of lecture in Medieval Philosophy. The lectures this weekend are really superfluous because our professor sent us the final about a week ago, so we can turn that in on Saturday and just coast the weekend.

I will probably continue to take notes on anything I find intriguing, but I am so glad that I never have to suffer through take another philosophy class as long as I have a rational psyche and a rational appetite to avoid that which is not good.

You see I did learn a thing or two over the summer, despite my lack of enthusiasm.

Now, on toward fall when I will have to write my final.

*Gulp*

It can't be any worse than the summer I just completed, or can it?

Pax

Just the Laugh I Needed

So most of you know that I have spent the summer immersed in the study (I hope) of philosophy. I have certainly whined enough on these pages about it.

Just when I think I can't possibly find anything to laugh about when it comes to philosophy, The Ironic Catholic comes up with this great post on misplaced youthful zeal and Post Raisin Bran.


Young Fans of Benedict XVI Boycott Post Raisin Bran


Why just last weekend I actually had to endured a rant lecture from my Ancient Philosophy professor on the horrors of Post Modernism and then she goes and makes it all funny.

I love her.

Pax

What Doesn't Kill Us . . .

often enough makes us wish we were dead.



Can you tell from that opening that I have just returned from another weekend of grueling philosofrication? This one was worse than the last one, because this is the professor who all along says that if I am having trouble "doing philosophy" it is because I am not trying hard enough.

What was worse, he used my paper as an example of how not to write an essay answering the question (of course anonymously, but I knew it was my paper the minute he began to read). When he handed back the assignments he said that if the paper didn't have a grade it meant that the person might want to rethink and rewrite the essays before he actually recorded the grades. Of course mine was one that didn't have a grade. It also didn't have any indication as to what he did or didn't like in the three essays so I immediately assumed (wouldn't you?) that he meant I had to rewrite all three answers.

When I finally was able to speak with him in private he looked at my essays and told me that it was only the first essay that was the difficulty and the other two were fine. If I left the first one the way it was my grade would be a C. If I corrected the flaws in the first one my grade could be raised to an A.

He then proceeded to ask me what my motivation was for getting a Masters Degree, and did I want to continue on to do more post graduate work, because if I did then a C in his class was disastrous.

I would dispute that getting a C in one class over the course of 48 credit hours would be enough to keep me out of every Doctoral program in the entire country, and asked him if the work I had done was at least passing. He said that yes it was, but he refrained from giving me a grade of C because he didn't want to "hurt my feelings" . I was stunned, did he think the way he handled this was more pastoral?

Anyway, the Mass today was about letting go of all irrelevant stuff, and seeking the higher goal of peace and joy that comes from above. I know that after this course is over my life will not be centered on how much Platonic and Aristotelian Philosophy I actually learned in gradual school. In fact this little episode will be a mere footnote to my experience.

The final assignment is to write a two page essay stating what in the course was the most important thing I learned and why it would be important for someone (not me personally but someone studying philosophy) to learn this. This I can do because there was a section on the first weekend that I actually understood and could relate to and thought would be of benefit to anyone studying theology.

On the way home the woman I carpool with helped me to understand the question for which I wrote the essay wrong in a way that actually didn't make my head explode (which was a good thing because she has a very nice car). I now think I have a framework for writing the answer to that question in a form that will satisfy his need to ask it.

So, all in all, although it was a very trying weekend I did survive. I cried, I laughed, I ate chocolate and tried to keep my mouth shut, when I could. I might even actually get a decent grade in this class after all.

One more philosophy class to go. I can almost smell freedom.

Pax

What Background Music Goes with Desperation?

So I am sitting in the library working on my Marathon assignment of questions on Augustine and Aquinas (I figure if I do five a day I will have them done by the time I have to turn them in. Since I won't be able to do any on Saturday or Sunday I am getting some done to get ahead).

Then for my other class on Plato and Aristotle I have to read 300+ pages before this Saturday so I have marked off 100 pages that I have to read today (as if, I mean seriously).

Older daughter is doing volunteer work here at the library and the two younger girls are checking out stuff. We may be here for a while.

Anyway I was searching through my Ipod for some music to listen to as I do all this studying. I actually set up a study mix of instrumental music so that the words won't get in the way, but I just don't feel like taking the chance of actually listening to music that might be upbeat, so I decided against listening to that today.

What did I choose? Well, considering all of the factors, my mood, the level of attachment I feel in the subject matter, and wanting to assure that I stay awake I decided that there was only one choice. This was what I chose.

Come on, you have to agree with me, the music is wonderful, but the lyrics are so nihilistic that they fit my current mood perfectly (especially girlfriend in a coma).

btw: the review in the link was written by my brother. I suppose I should come clean and let him know that I was actually a Smiths fan back in the late 80's too. But then I doubt that he would believe it, he thinks I am totally uncool.

Pax

SMACKDOWN!

So this was my ante-penultimate (the class before my next to last class--give me a break I am supposed to be trying to sound all educated for heaven sake) philosophy class of my Gradual School career. I had a conversation with my philosophy professor (not the original one who philosofried me, this is the one from Medieval Philosophy class).

While my Ancient Philosophy professor thinks that anyone can be trained to "do philosophy" and if I can't "do philosophy" then I'm just not using the right skill set, this professor (who happens to have trained the other professor) says that he believes that is a fallacy and there are people who really can never gain the knack for "doing philosophy".

He then went on to say that in my case (and I am not making this up) all things being considered, perhaps I was better suited to a career in stand up comedy than philosophy.

Major Burn!!!!!

Actually, what a relief. If I can only endure these next two classes, and the assignments that my two torturersprofessors plan to heap gift me with to discern what I have retained, (or can find on philosophypages.com) I will have successfully survived the gauntlet of philosophy.

God willing, I will not need to take another philosophy course again as long as I live. Please, please God.

Pax

I've Been Philosofried

So I have decided to start on my homework while the stuff I did get in class this weekend is still relatively fresh in my mind. in actuality I am terrified that if I sleep on it I will wake up tomorrow morning and remember nothing at all.

Just a quick prayer before I begin: (My deepest apologies to Thomas Merton)


My Lord, I have no idea what I am writing. I do not see the point ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am making a coherent point does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to do well in this course does in fact count for something. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing (or at least that I can fake it for another month). And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right path to my sought after degree, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of Plato's cave. I will not fear, for you are ever with me and you will never leave me to face being philosofried alone.

Pax

I must be Filled with Socractic Wisdom . . .

because I am reasonably sure that I know nothing about philosophy.

My professor was nice enough to tell me that at least I am not (and I am not making this up) "stupid about my own stupidity." Which I suppose in philosophical terms means I have that going for me. Yeah me.

In stark reality after two weekends of Ancient Philosophy I have understood two concepts that the professor was discussing, over a total of 20 hours of lecture, one of which will actually be marginally helpful in answering his questions that were assigned for homework last month. He feels so sorry for me that he did assure me that if I at least attempt to do the work he will guarantee that I will get no grade lower than a C for the class (which is the minimum grade I need in order to graduate) so I suppose even if I tank the assignments I will be okay.

I do feel as though I am coming out of the darkness a little bit in some respects. I am beginning to understand some of the concepts he keeps using over and over, but I don't like the way that he defines terms by using the term he is defining in the definition. Is that a philosophical anomaly? Having been raised by an English teacher and an English major, I know that that is a big problem, but somehow he didn't see anything wrong with the circular reasoning involved in defining a term by using the same word as part of the definition. It really drove me nuts.

With my new insight, and the help of whichever of the communion of saints I can beg for assistance I have two weeks to complete the three questions that I couldn't answer on Friday. I think I may at least have a glimmer of understanding as to how to approach a coherent answer today.

Pray for me. I will do philosophy, or die in the attempt.

Pax

Philosophy is Making Me Sick!!!

At least that is what I have been telling myself and mrangelmeg.

Ever since Sunday evening I have been struggling with horrible nausea and the strangest sensation that is hard to describe. Things don't taste bad, it is as if my taste buds are very sensitive -- everything just tastes too much, if that makes any sense. It is as if my taste buds are on fire.

At first I thought I had gotten an infection in my mouth which can happen with the steroid inhaler I take every night. I have to be very careful to brush my teeth and rinse out my mouth every night because I am afraid of that, but that wouldn't explain the stomach ache that came before it.

Another thought is that it might be a reaction to a calcium supplement that I have been taking which I just started taking last week.

The problem is I just don't have time to feel sick. I still have essays to write for class this coming weekend and stuff to read for the class I took last weekend. Not to mention laundry to do and other housework to get done around here and wanting to spend time with the family. Mrangelmeg is actually taking two whole days off of work and I don't feel well enough to do much of anything but sit around.

So, even though I know that it is something else making me sick I am going to blame it on Philosophy. I know I would feel much better if I didn't have all of that hanging over my head like a piano on a fraying rope.

Please keep me in prayer as I attempt to make sense of Plato and Aristotle in essays while feeling like my insides are on fire. If anyone has an idea of something I can do to calm my burning taste buds I would love to hear it.

Pax

Philosophical and Literal IPod Silence Sunday

Sorry for no Random Sunday playlist yesterday but I was in Philosophy class all day and the came home to what literally amounted to a complete power outage mine (and the energy company's till after midnight).

I took advantage of daylight savings and read my textbook until after nine o'clock. Still can't get used to that phenomenon. And then the family sat together and watched about four episodes of the first season of How I Met Your Mother before my laptop battery went dead.

then we all went to bed.

So I might get around to a Lazy Monday Random ten, but with eight chapters of Philosophy to read in less than a month and two parties next weekend (daughter # 1 is turning 21 on Saturday and daughter #2 is having an open house for graduation on Sunday, I seriously doubt that today will lean anywhere near lazy in the angelmeg household.

I will post a Housecleaning Monday Random 10, Yeah that's the ticket.

Besides I want to post about the awesome Philosophy class I went to. I won't say that this professor will make me a philosopher, but he does make me understand it and after two days I do see light in a very dark forest, which is nice. I may never be able to think like a philosopher, but with this professor at least I won't feel dense in his presence.

Pax

Just Wondering . . .

Why would anyone want to eat Natural Foods?


People are dying of Natural Causes all the time!!!!!




h/t to my big sis who sent that to me in an email.

Pax

Aquinas Loves a Sunday Afternoon

So I spent yesterday afternoon at the inaugural Aquinas Lecture at the Newman Center here. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, except that the speaker was an Aquinas scholar from St. Louis University.

The Dominicans who run the Newman Center here were very happy to be hosting a talk on Aquinas, because he is one of their own, even if the speaker did come from a Jesuit University. (A fact that Fr. Bob just had to mention, we'll allow them their little digs, we can take it)

Anyway, the Speaker was Dr. Eleonore Stump, a Professor of Philosophy. She dove right in and gave an amazing lecture on Aquinas' philosophy of love and how that philosophy relates to forgiveness. I took tons of notes, and it cleared up quite a few misconceptions I had about how Aquinas came to understand human emotion and interaction. All in all it was an afternoon well spent.

The last half hour of her time was spent in a Q&A, which amounted to the audience asking her many questions that stretched their understanding of not only Aquinas, but how he relates to how we live today and how decisions are made, or not made in contemporary society.

I really think the lecture exceeded Fr. Bob's expectations for a lecture of this type. The most amazing part was the age range of the audience. I would guess that the youngest person in the audience was probably a 19 year old student (someone I recognized who is currently in the RCIA program on Wednesday nights) and the oldest was well into retirement age. Everyone was engaged in the lecture and discussion.

This is why I love living in a University town. Which is not to say that something like this might not happen at a Catholic church anywhere, but the chances of it happening in a University setting are a bit greater.

God is so good, I can add what I learned yesterday to what I am reading these next few months before I actually have to take the Medieval Philosophy class next summer, and I won't feel so ill prepared. So long as I continue to do the hard work that is.

Pax

Undue Influence, But This Kind I Could Get Used To

So I went to my parish library yesterday after morning mass. Did I tell you all how much I love the new priest (I think I did). I intended to pick up a few books on ancient and medieval philosophy to read between now and when I have to take those dreaded classes next summer. What I found was a veritable gold mine of books on Philosophy and Religion (what did I expect in a parish library after all?)

So, anyway, I pulled a few books off of the shelf and was quite satisfied. I had reading material for the next month or two, and would be well versed in ancient and medieval philosophy. I was about to leave when because of the influence of my Internet pals I could not stifle the urge to check out just one more book.

Now, lets you and I play a little game of "one of these things is not like the others": Which of the books in angelmeg's stack doesn't quite fit into the category of Ancient and Medieval Philosophy studies: Which do you suppose I was coerced to pick up because of my affiliation with that wild group of men?

Introduction to Thomas Aquinas

The Emergence of a Philosophy of Religion

Medieval Thought: Augustine and Aquinas

Kierkegaard an Introduction



And the funniest thing of all, in a day with no time at all to read I have practically devoured the silly thing. I am almost halfway through. Can you imagine if I had had any real free time yesterday.

If we had studied Kierkegaard in my Modern Philosophy Class last summer I might not have gone so starkers. He actually makes sense, and poetic sense at that. I am in awe and indebted once again to the guys across the blogosphere for the shove.

Now I have to back-track a few centuries and begin reading the other stuff.

Sigh.

Work, work, work.

Pax

God's Personal Comedy Central

I am sure you have heard the old addage:

If you want to make God laugh, make plans.

That is exactly how I feel at this moment. I had my entire semester planned out, I was going to be taking a weekday course with the seminarians at Saint Meinrad on Mondays and Thursdays and still be able to visit my mom on Tuesdays as I have been. Things were looking pretty good in that direction. This was going to keep me from taking two Philosophy courses, which you all know that I love so completely, at the same time next summer.

Well, as things turn out, what a difference a week makes. I got a call from my sister yesterday and it seems as though my presence will be more necessary than ever at my mom's house next semester. My sister and I will have to trade off spending a week at a time up there to take care of mom so that mom can stay in her house instead of going to a nursing home. My other sister who is doing this care now has decided that she no longer wants to be there and until we can get better arrangements in place this will have to be how we work this out.

We have talked about this all along, I was just hoping that we could put this off till next summer or fall.

So, I will be spending every other week with my mother instead of two days a week with seminarians. To be honest I will prefer her company to theirs, but don't tell them that. There must be some reason that God wants me to take the two classes at the same time, and I am sure that it will become apparent to me when I am in the thick of them this summer.

And just so I don't get buried in reading this summer I can get a jump start by getting the reading lists for the two classes early and get started reading Aristotle and Plato and Augustine and Aquinas while I am at my mom's house.

Hey, stop laughing, it could happen!

Pax

Milestones Reached

I met with my advisor this morning and I am set to register for my penultimate class in my Masters Degree program.

I am going to take a class this Spring Semester at Saint Meinrad on Monday and Thursday mornings. Which will mean a commute, but it is the only way to get the class I need and not have to take two philosophy classes at the same time (every other weekend) next summer. It will mean taking a class which will be mostly seminarians except me. and having to trust that the weather will cooperate, but I am praying that I have a good experience.


After that I will have a class in the summer in Indianapolis, and then a final in the fall and I will be done.

Who would have thought that I would be so close to this goal? I am sure that when I began this journey way back in the fall of 2003 graduation was very far from my mind and here it is right around the corner!

Who knows what I will be doing with my degree, but from where I sit now the future looks filled with promise, and I am very excited about the opportunities I have to explore.

Keep me in your prayers, after all these last two classes are both Philosophy classes. I may just die before I get through them.

Pax