Summer is almost over, dear reader, but what a summer it was. No exotic trips, or unforgettable moments in the sun. It was a lot of work, actually, with coordinating, juggling, managing, all through a jam packed semester--though with only two weeks left. But, for all of that, it was a time of self-confrontation, destruction, … Continue reading One Before Each
Philosophy
Dialoguing with Aquinas on Polytheism
We are at a point in two of my courses where we are deep-diving into Thomas Aquinas. While studying various of his texts, such as his Disputed Questions, his Summas, and various Commentaries, I decided to return to Aquinas' interaction with polytheism. There was one objection of his that particularly struck me as a fruitful … Continue reading Dialoguing with Aquinas on Polytheism
(Mis)appropriating Polycentricity
It can sound mysterious to say that there is no determinate upper bound number of Gods; or, that this upper bound amount cannot be counted, or that this kind of state of affairs is due to the fact that Deity precedes everything, even Number. This can make it sound like at the highest level of … Continue reading (Mis)appropriating Polycentricity
Dumsday on Polytheism: Part II
Dumsday makes a lot of engaging, interesting, and provocative points throughout his work, but this final post will focus on two of his points in particular: (iii) inferring plurality from transcendence, and (iv) mapping the abstract to what's on the ground. Of these, the first will take far more of our time. I. Inferring plurality … Continue reading Dumsday on Polytheism: Part II
Dumsday on Polytheism: Part I
In this first post, I want to reflect on two of the points Dumsday makes: (i) how might polytheists appropriate arguments for Bare Theism, or prevent monotheists from doing so? and (ii) how are henads different from bare particulars? I. Appropriating arguments for Bare Theism Dumsday notes that while thinkers like Greer and myself have … Continue reading Dumsday on Polytheism: Part I
Dumsday on Polytheism: Introduction
Travis Dumsday recently published 'Alternative Conceptions of the Spiritual: Polytheism, Animism, and More in Contemporary Philosophy of Religion' with Bloomsbury Academic. This is a much needed, and much appreciated work that seeks to bring to the fore and engage with various substantive but neglected philosophical alternatives to prevailing paradigms like Christian theism or Naturalism. He … Continue reading Dumsday on Polytheism: Introduction
Nativism and the Genealogy of Logic
I am reading the most wonderful book in grad school right now called Phenomenology of the Human Person, by Robert Sokolowski. He has a fascinating chapter where he reflects on the origins of the power to predicate--the genealogy of logic, as it were. He considers three views, chiefly: Kantian nativism, biological nativism, and Husserl's view.What … Continue reading Nativism and the Genealogy of Logic
On the Proper Integration of Christianity
This is something of a journal entry. I saw in a flash that it is in the nature of mortality to say goodbye in every moment to the one in that moment. My children, my wife, we age with every passing moment. And it grieved me to say goodbye to each time of them passing … Continue reading On the Proper Integration of Christianity
Growing through the Sidewalk
Hello dear reader, it's been some time. I was not sure what would come of this place, but I'm very glad to find it still here.I want to share something with you if you'll humor me. I'm told it is not that uncommon of a story, but it is now mine to tell. It's about … Continue reading Growing through the Sidewalk
Swirl
What you are about to read is as much a prayer as it is an exercise in reason. It is a logic quickened by spirit, an animated technology for the soul to reach back into the first principles within her. This will thus be the debut of an esoteric, enchanted logic. It will proceed as … Continue reading Swirl
The Analytic Pagan 