Online Great Books Podcast

Scott and Karl explore Edward Feser's Scholastic Metaphysics: A Contemporary Introduction.  Published in 2014, Professor Feser provides an overview of scholastic metaphysics in the tradition of Thomas Aquinas, relying heavily on an appeal to reason.  Scott says, "The scholastics are the best at steel manning. They will investigate, and explore, and expand upon any possible objection to their case and refute them one by one."  Karl adds, "Think of it as a classroom of really smart people...it's a very charitable way to think." Scott and Karl discuss the style and approach of the scholastics, guided by the Aristotelian theory of actuality and potentiality.  Scott concludes, "The reliance on reason that the scholastics have is more rigorous, more generous, and more modern than most modern philosophy and even science." The duo also begins discussing the professor's arguments against scientism. Producer Brett provides us with a definition of scientism being an excessive belief in scientific knowledge both in its e