"A Thomistic Tapestry: Essays in Memory of Étienne Gilson, edited by Peter A. Redpath
"Gilson and Maritain: Battle Over the Beautiful," by Francesca Murphy
p. 103-104
"Maritain, as a convert, who began by seeing the need for reason and worked his way from there to faith, and Gilson, as a cradle-catholic, who experienced faith as a given, were at tempermental antipodes from one another.
The differences between them were more than psychological. Gilson created a philosophy for theology. Maritain developed a philosophy grown into fruition in the shelter of his spiritual life, but not intended to be the direct and inseparable expression of his Christian belief. Gilson positions his starting point in faith, or theology, Maritain in philosophy. Gilson's philosophy is intended to illuminate his theology. Maritain's philosophy is intended to explain experiences universally accessible to all rational human beings, regardless of their religion.
...I have no doubt that we have an equal need of Maritain's philosophical and Gilson's theological apologetic. In the years to come, Gilson will serve as a reminder that, as Augustine knew, cultural conservativism is not enough: it is not even a beginning.
2 comments:
Which work of Gilson do you appreciate the most, Beth, and would it be accessible to theologically trained lovers of philosophy? I appreciated the last sentence that cultural conservatism isn't enough, or even a beginning, that I wanted to dip into Gilson, if that's possible!
Ann, try "Christian Philosophy: An Introduction." You can read most of it online here:
http://tiny.cc/1Fm5z
I'm also fond of his short essay, "The Intelligence in the service of Christ the King."
Then of course there is "The Christian Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas"
and
"The Unity of Philosopical Experience."
Gilson was a historian, and he writes with a keen eye toward situating philosophical texts in their historical mileu. This helps make his work accessible to me. I hope you will enjoy reading him.
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