A HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY AND THEOLOGY PDF, EPUB, EBOOK John M Frame | 864 pages | 20 Nov 2015 | P & R Publishing Co (Presbyterian & Reformed) | 9781629950846 | English | NJ, United States A History of Western Philosophy and Theology PDF Book These commitments, combined with the format of a seminary or college textbook, will make this work invaluable to students and pastors who tire of ostensible neutrality that is no more neutral than the next volume. Related Articles. Jupiter's deeds count more, with most pagans, than Plato's doctrines or Cato's opinions. This is a masterful and engaging walk through the Western worlds most substantive and contributory philosophers from the Greeks to the present. To aid the reader in content retention there is a list of study questions at the end of each chapter. The concept of latter explains what went wrong with philosophy thoughts by recognize their inconsistency between rationality and irrationality. Both, however, said that all gods are good, and to be worshipped. We seem here to be led into contradictions. That will be the main theme and emphasis of this book. I fully suspect that a number who do not share Frame's perspective will take issue with his judgments on philosophers and theologians. This discussion is very important as revealing the psychology of asceticism; we must therefore go into it, although the Saint confesses that the theme is immodest. About John M. Frame makes no bones about the fact that his survey is not unbiased, he approaches this subject with a particular agenda, but for those who tend to be sympathetic with Frame's thinking, this is a good primer. They liked to have filthy stories told of them, because they wanted to injure men. Lisa Zevorich Susner Professional website and blog. But his analysis kept it interesting, and I was glad I read through this book, despite my disagreements. Frame continues to provide the church with solid books that will have a shelf life for generations to come. Omitting some physiological details which the translator has very properly left in the decent obscurity of the original Latin, the above is St Augustine's theory as regards sex. But for the most part, it was an enlightening, interesting, and edifying read! Even atheists have a theology of God and it often comes to light in their philosophy. The description of the philosophies in question are not as helpful as other volumes--such as Clark's Thales to Dewey--, especially in the early chapters, but Frame's contribution is felt in his application of Van Til's critique of unbiblical thought to each philosopher and movement examined--showing how they simultaneously fall prey to irrationalism and autonomous rationalism. Augustine had to write to the patriarch of Jerusalem to warn him against the wily heresiarch, who had persuaded many Eastern theologians to adopt his views. It is wicked to commit suicide in order to avoid being raped; this leads to a long discussion of Lucretia, who ought not to have killed herself, because suicide is always a sin. He comes next to the wickedness of the heathen gods. Brian D. A History of Western Philosophy and Theology Writer More filters. Reformed Theological Seminary is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. For each philosopher, Frame categorizes their thought, narrates the development of their system across their corpus, and provides a two-pronged critique. Along the way, I also found myself longing to read Anselm, to re-read Pascal, to dig into the common sense philosophy of Thomas Reid. Notify me of new posts via email. In the sack of Troy, on the contrary, Juno's temple afforded no protection, nor did the gods preserve the city from destruction. Buckley crude inky blab. Between these two I have become familiar with many histories of Western thought, each written out of deep commitments, some acknowledged, some not. I'm reading on my iPad and haven't noticed any missing. But, of course, this just reinforces my point, that with Frame, such a keen insight is to be expected. To talk of one is to talk of the other. He brings together a rare blend of big-picture thinking, levelheaded reflection, biblical fidelity, a love for the gospel and the church, and the ability to write with care and clarity. Plato saw that God is. Summary: This is a survey and critique of the major philosophers and theologians of the West beginning with the Greek philosophers and early church fathers up to the present day, written from a reformed perspective. After an admirable chapter against judicial torture, St Augustine proceeds to combat the new Academicians, who hold all things to be doubtful. This view the Saint very sensibly opposes. And certainly, any specialist would probably take issue with his treatment of this or that figure. It is a further outstanding achievement by John Frame. If theology is responsible to an authority that initiates its thinking, speaking, and witnessing—e. The history of philosophy is as important for the church as is church history and historical theology. That theological questions in the modern age of secularism are less openly posed than in the time of the Middle Ages does not reduce their lasting significance. The doctrine of predestination and election is Pauline, though St Augustine gave it a much fuller and more logical development than is to be found in the Epistles. Rather, it is one reason it should exist. The author clearly reveals the presuppositions which guide his writing and inform his worldview:. In primitive religions the tribe represents the pivot around which all worldly relations turn. This leads St Augustine to a very admirable relativistic theory of time. Sample Chapter. In the East, where the emperor was strong, this development never took place, and the Church remained much more subject to the State than it became in the West. All rights reserved. Context HWPT stands alone by contextualizing the various philosophic movements and the thinkers who represent those movements. The positives of this approach mean that Frame has a rather distinct view of these subjects, which makes the book interesting. The data, as given in the Septuagint, lead to the conclusion that Methuselah survived the flood by fourteen years, which is impossible, since he was not in the Ark. Augustine had to write to the patriarch of Jerusalem to warn him against the wily heresiarch, who had persuaded many Eastern theologians to adopt his views. John Piper Founder and Teacher, desiringGod. A History of Western Philosophy and Theology Reviews In most chapters, he will cover the thought of several major thinkers, and then more briefly touch on others. About Us. But there, pain shall afflict eternally, and nature shall suffer eternally, both enduring to the continuance of the inflicted punishment. Learn how your comment data is processed. They always reemerge, often in disguised form, such as in the quest for the meaning of life and existence or in the nihilistic resignation regarding that quest; furthermore, they reemerge in the quest for the dignity of human existence, the inviolability of life, the determination of human rights , and many other such questions. This is a presuppositional apologist's take on philosophy and theology, which means you're not going to get away from a distinctly presuppositional analysis of major historical figures, for better or for worse. A history of philosophy, let alone Western philosophy, is a history of men attempting to think wisely about the big questions of life. It took me about a year and a half to work my way through this quite long survey of Western Philosophy. These thinkers often said one thing that seem are rational but said other thing that is irrational. Buckley crude inky blab. About John M. Agree or disagree with some of his arguments, but John Frame will teach you how to think in theological and philosophical categories. Richard Belcher. Aug 05, Josh Shelton rated it it was amazing Shelves: philosophy. Such an admission is rare in the world of philosophy. The Longest Chapter Literary fiction, poetry, first editions, classics There is also a thirty-page glossary, defining key terms. Thus, Luther did not see dogmas in terms of degrees of certitude, where one Church decision is infallible, another holds great weight, while another is mere opinion. May 08, Peter Stonecipher rated it really liked it. This conclusion leaves undecided the question as to the authority of Jerome's translation. In addition to surveying the sweep of Western philosophical and theological thought, his discussions served to whet the appetite for pursuing some of these in further depth. He held to predestination, and also to the need of baptism for salvation; these two doctrines do not harmonize well, and the extreme Protestants threw over the latter. Those familiar with Frame will anticipate that he does so from his presuppositional and triperspectival outlook on theology. Mar 04, An Idler rated it it was amazing. Rather, the book described the history of the philosophical and theological works and musings that to my non-philosophic head were mostly meaningless, absurd, or mad. But the churches fought pitched battles over those heresies. It is a mistake to suppose that virtue brings unhappiness, even in this world: Christian emperors, if virtuous, have been happy even if not fortunate, and Constantine and Theodosius were fortunate as well; again, the Jewish kingdom lasted as long as the Jews adhered to the truth of religion. It is not suggested that the gods are mere fables; they are held by St Augustine to exist, but to be devils.