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Why Study Philosophy and Theology?

Dr. Peter Kreeft


Dr. Kreeft is a well-respected Catholic apologist and since 1965 has served as professor of philosophy
at Boston College. He is the author of more than 50 books on philosophy, theology and apologetics.

Here is one of the clearest criteria for choosing swerable without looking (that is not reason
or judging a college: you can be almost certain but prejudice) but will examine the claims
that any college that has dropped philosophy of philosophers to have given reasonable an-
and theology from its core curriculum is not swers to these questions before settling into a
serious about a liberal arts education. And in comfortable, fashionable skepticism.
my experience I find that this is true of many Theology comes in two forms, philo-
of the colleges in America. sophical and religious. Philosophical theol-
This raises two questions: (1) What are ogy (“natural theology”) is a subdivision of
philosophy and theology, and why are they philosophy. It uses natural human reason to
crucial to a young person’s education today? explore the greatest of all questions, the ques-
(2) Aren’t they outdated, impractical, abstract, tions about God. Religious theology (or “re-
irrelevant, elitist, superfluous and even dan- vealed theology”) is a rational exploration of
gerous to faith and sanity? the meaning and consequences of faith in a
revealed religion—in our case, the “deposit
of faith” or “Sacred Tradition” of the Catho-
Some Definitions lic Church which comes from Christ and His
apostles, and the scriptures they wrote.
“Philosophy” means “the love of wisdom.”
In most Catholic universities today, Sa-
Wisdom is the knowledge of ultimate causes,
cred Tradition is no longer sacred. It is treated
explanations and principles. It includes
as something to be “dissented” from (“diss”
knowledge of values, not just facts. It gives
is the first part of “dissent”), as an enemy to
you a “big picture,” a “world-view” and a
enlightenment, progress, maturity and lib-
“life-view.” It explores such questions as
eration, or at least as an embarrassment to be
these: What is the essence of a human being?
“tweaked,” “nuanced” or “massaged” rather
What is the meaning (value, goal, purpose)
than as a gift to be gratefully, faithfully and
of human life? What is a good life? What is
lovingly explored.
a good society? Are there higher laws than
Most Catholic universities today have
man’s laws? Are we here by chance or design?
philosophy departments that are excellent
Are we fated or free? How do we know what
spiritually as well as academically, but have
is good or evil? How do we know anything?
deeply compromised theology departments.
Is anything certain? Can reason prove (or dis-
Their effect on students is much more often
prove) the existence of God? Why do we suf-
to weaken their faith than to strengthen it,
fer? Why do we die? Is there life after death?
not only in controversial moral issues such as
Anyone who is simply not interested in
abortion, contraception, cloning, euthanasia
these questions is less than fully human, less
and sexual morality, but even in fundamen-
than fully reasonable. Reasonable persons,
tal doctrines such as Christ’s divinity and
even if skeptical about the possibility of an-
resurrection and the historical truth of the
swering them, will not dismiss them as unan-

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Why Study Philosophy and Theology?

Gospels. of them hope to marry and raise families, and


We badly need good philosophy and the- it takes a lot of money to do that. Why does a
ology. But why? To answer this question, look family need a lot of money? The two most ex-
at where they are taught. They are taught in pensive things a family needs money for are a
colleges and universities. So to find the “why” house and a college education for the kids.
of philosophy and theology, we must find the Ah, so a student should study to get high
“why” of colleges and universities. grades to get an impressive resume to get a
good job, to finance his family when it sends
his kids to college to study, to get high grades,
The Goal of Education et cetera, et cetera.
This is arguing in a circle. It is like a tiger
Considering the trillions of dollars spent on
pacing round and round his cage in a zoo. Is
universities by parents, governments and
there a better answer? There is if you know
foundations, it is amazing that most of the
some philosophy. Let’s look.
people who go there (the students) and most
Probably the most commonsensical and
of the people who pay for them (the parents
influential philos-
and the govern-
opher of all time
ment) never even
was Aristotle. Ar-
ask, much less What is the purpose of the istotle says that
answer, this ques-
university? It is the most influential there are three
tion: What is the
“whys,” three pur-
purpose of the
university? It is institution in Western civilization, poses, ends or rea-
sons for anyone
the most influen-
tial institution in
and most of us don’t really ever to study and
learn anything,
Western civiliza-
know exactly why we entrust in school or out
tion, and most
of it. Thus there
of us don’t really our children to them. are three kinds of
know exactly why
“sciences,” which
we entrust our
he called “produc-
children to them.
tive,” “practical” and “theoretical.” (Aristotle
The commonest answer is probably to
used “science” in a much broader way than
train them for a career. A B.A. looks good on
we do, meaning any ordered body of knowl-
your resume to prospective employers. That
edge through causes and reasons.)
is not only a crass, materialistic answer, but
The purpose of the “productive sciences”
also an illogical one. Consider what it means.
(which we today call technology) is to produce
It means that the reason students should
things, to make, improve or repair material
study in universities is so that they can get
things in the world, and thus to improve our
high grade-point averages and thus get better
world. Farming, surgery, shipbuilding, car-
jobs when they graduate.
pentry, writing and tailoring were examples
What does “better jobs” mean? It means
in Aristotle’s era as well as ours, while ours
first of all, to most of them, better-paying jobs.
also includes many new ones like cybernet-
But why do they need better paying jobs? For
ics, aviation and electrical engineering.
the money, of course. Silly question. But why
The purpose of the “practical sciences”
do they need money? That is an even sillier
(which meant learning how to do or practice
question. Life has expenses. What life? Most

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Peter Kreeft

anything, how to act) is to improve your own The Big Picture


behavior in some area of your own life. The
two most important of these areas, Aristotle What we have been doing for the last several
said, were ethics and politics. (Aristotle saw paragraphs is philosophy. We need philoso-
politics not as a pragmatic, bureaucratic busi- phy because we need to explore such reasons,
ness of running a state’s economy, but as so- reasons for studying, reasons for universities’
cial ethics, the science of the good life for a existence, even (especially) reasons for your
community.) Other examples of “practical sci- own existence. For one of the primary ques-
ences” include economics, athletics, rhetoric tions all great philosophers ask is: What is the
and military science. meaning of life, the reason for being, the point
The third kind of sciences is the “theoreti- and purpose and end of human existence in
cal” or “speculative” (contemplative), i.e., those this world? If you don’t know that, you don’t
that seek the truth for its own sake, that seek to know anything because you don’t know the
know just for the sake of knowing rather than point of everything. If you don’t know that,
for the sake of action or production (though, you may get all A’s
of course, they in all your subjects,
will have impor- but you flunk Life.
tant practical ap-
We want to know the meaning of
The answer to
plication). These
falling in love and romance and sex. that question for any
sciences include intelligent, honest
theology, phi- What is its meaning, its purpose? and serious Chris-
losophy, physics, tian, Jew or Muslim
astronomy, biol- For two generations now we have is God. Supreme
ogy, psychology wisdom is about
and math. been asking every conceivable knowing God. And
Theoreti- philosophy is the
cal sciences are question... but not this one, not the pursuit of wisdom.
more important So philosophy is ul-
than practical very first and most basic one.
timately the pursuit
sciences for the of God, using the
very same rea- tools of natural hu-
son practical sciences are more important man reason and theology by faith in super-
than productive sciences: because their end natural divine revelation.
and goal is more intimate to us. Productive The “wisdom” philosophy pursues is not
sciences perfect some external thing in the a factual knowledge like physics or history;
material world that we use; practical sciences but a knowledge, and understanding, and
perfect our own action, our own lives; and appreciation, of values, of what ought to be
theoretical sciences perfect our very selves, rather than merely what is. For instance, we
our souls, our minds. They make us bigger need to know whether career (work) or fam-
persons. ily is more important, because most of us will
And that is the reason for going to col- invest enormous emotional and physical en-
lege in the first place: not to make money, or ergy in both, and they will always compete
things, or even to live better, but to be better, and conflict to some extent.
to be more, to grow your mind as you grow We want to know the meaning of fall-
your body. ing in love and romance and sex. What is its

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Why Study Philosophy and Theology?

meaning, its purpose? For two generations pragmatism. “Philosophy doesn’t turn me
now we have been asking every conceivable on” is a philosophy: hedonism.
question (and many inconceivable questions, Everyone has a philosophy, just as ev-
too), but not this one, not the very first and eryone has an emotional temperament and a
most basic one. moral character. Your only choice is between
You see? Philosophy and theology raise “knowing yourself” and thinking about your
the mind’s eyes to The Big Picture. If we can’t philosophy, or hiding from it and from your-
see that, we miss the forest and see only the self. But what you do not think about will still
trees; we count the syllables in the book of life be there, and will still motivate you, and have
but don’t know what kind of a story we are consequences, and those consequences will
in. affect all the people in your life up to the day
of your death and far beyond it.
Your philosophy can quite likely and
Good Philosophy, quite literally make the difference between
Good Theology heaven and hell. Saint Francis of Assisi and
Adolf Hitler were not professional philoso-
One philosopher tells this story. (I paraphrase.) phers, but both had philosophies, and lived
I was raised in a New York City slum. There them, and went to heaven or hell according
were no books in my house. No one in my to their philosophies. That is how much of a
high school cared about education. I found an difference thought can make: “Sow a thought,
escape in the great 42nd Street library, where reap an act; sow an act, reap a habit; sow a
I devoured books indiscriminately. One day, habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a
I happened to read the famous “allegory of destiny.” Buddha said, “All that we are is de-
the cave” from Plato’s Republic. It changed my termined by our thoughts: it begins where our
life. I found my identity. My life was that cave, thoughts begin, it moves where our thoughts
and philosophy was the way out into another, move, and it rests where our thoughts rest.”
bigger world. My mind was born that day. For Philosophy can lead you to God, and the-
the rest of my life I have explored the world ology can lead you further into God (or away
outside the cave, the world of ideas, and from Him). And God is the source of all truth,
taught others to do so. The biggest thrill in all goodness and all beauty; that is, of every-
my life is finding among my students some- thing we value. (If that is not true, then God
one like me whom I can show that there is a is not God.) All truth is God’s truth; when an
way out of the cave, and that there is a bigger atheist discovers some scientific truth, he is
world outside. reading the mind of God, the Logos. All good-
That is why we all need to study phi- ness is God’s goodness; when an agnostic sec-
losophy (and, even more obviously, theology): ularist loves his neighbor, he is responding
because it is the discovery of another world, to divine grace. All beauty is God’s beauty;
another kind of world, another kind of real- when a dissipated, confused and immoral
ity than the material world: the discovery that artist creates a thing of beauty, he is using the
ideas are real, and that (in the words of a great image of God in his soul, being inspired by
book title) “ideas have consequences.” the Holy Spirit, however anonymously, and
The only alternative to good philosophy participating in God’s creative power.
is bad philosophy. “I hate philosophy” is bad Philosophy is a necessity if you want to
philosophy, but it is a philosophy: egotism. understand our world. Bad philosophy is the
“Philosophy isn’t practical” is a philosophy: source of most of the great errors in our world

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Peter Kreeft

today. Errors in philosophy are devastating we need is a set of answers we believe on the
because they affect everything, as an error of Church’s authority but do not understand.
an inch in surveying the angle of a property The truly respectful attitude toward the au-
line will become an error of ten yards a mile thority of the Church—which is an extension
down the line. of the authority of Christ—is to let revealed
Most of the controversies in our world truth permeate our minds and our lives like
today can be understood and solved only by light, not simply to preserve that light by hid-
good philosophy and theology; for instance, ing it under a bushel basket. All “ideas have
the relation between world religions, especial- consequences,” especially divinely revealed
ly Islam and Christianity; human life issues ideas; and it is our job to lovingly draw out
such as abortion, euthanasia and cloning; the those consequences, like philosophers, and
justice of wars; the meaning of human sexual- not to fear them, like heresy hunters, or to
ity and of the “sexual revolution”; the relation claim them as our own in a spirit of superior-
between mind and brain, and between human ity to our divine teacher, like heretics.
intelligence and “artificial intelligence”; the
relation between
creation and evo-
Answering
lution; how far Your philosophy can quite likely Objections
we are free and
responsible and and quite literally make the differ- But there are ob-
how far we are de- jections to philoso-
termined by bio- ence between heaven and hell. phy and theology
logical heredity out there. If this
and social envi- were not so, the
ronment; the relation between morality and teaching of these subjects would not have de-
religion, and between religion and politics; clined so precipitously. Let us briefly consider
and whether morality is socially relative or and answer some of them.
universal, unchanging and absolute.  What can you do with philosophy and
Revealed theology claims to have the theology anyway? We have already an-
answers, or at least the principles that should swered that question by noting that it is
govern the answers, to many of these ques- the wrong question. The right question is
tions. So theology is even more important what they can do with you.
than philosophy, if answers are more impor-
 But they’re so abstract! Yes, and that is
tant than questions. And of course they are,
their glory. To be incapable of abstraction
for the whole point of asking a question, if
is to be less than human, or a less than ful-
you are honest, is the hope of finding an an-
ly developed human. Animals and small
swer. It is nonsense to believe that “it is better
children, for instance, are incapable of ab-
to travel hopefully than to arrive,” and good
straction. They do not talk about Fate and
philosophy refutes that self-contradiction. If
Freedom, or Good and Evil, or Divinity and
it’s not better to arrive at your goal of truth
Humanity, or Life and Death (all abstrac-
than to strain after it, then truth is not really
tions). They talk only about hamburgers
your goal at all, and the straining after it is a
and French fries, boo boos and bandages,
sham.
malls and cartoons. These things are not
That is not, of course, to say that it is
“the real world.” They are the shadows on
easy to arrive at the goal of truth, or that all
the walls of Plato’s cave. Philosophy and

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Why Study Philosophy and Theology?

theology are not fantasy. They are the es- it, or you are afraid it is so weak that it will
cape from fantasy. not endure the light. In that case you need
a faith-lift.
 But philosophy is a dinosaur—it isn’t up
to date, modern, popular, etc. No. Neither  But philosophy can be a danger to faith.
is wisdom, virtue, happiness, piety, fidel- Many have lost their faith through phi-
ity, courage, peace or contentment. losophy. Yes, and many have gained it,
too. Of course, philosophy is dangerous.
 What does philosophy have to do with
So is love, and trust, technology and mon-
real life? Everything. It is more important
ey. Bad things are always misuses of good
to know the philosophy of a prospective
things. Wherever great harm is done, great
employee or employer, landlord or renter,
help could have been done.
friend or enemy, husband or wife, than
their income, social class or politics.
 Philosophy is elitist. It speaks of “Great Final Things
Books” and “Great Ideas” and “Great
Minds.” Yes, it does. At least good philos- This is especially true in theology. I know a
ophy does. If you prefer crummy books, chaplain who was ministering at the bedside
stupid ideas and tiny minds, you should of an old, dying man who had “lost his faith”
not waste your money on college. If you and left the Church decades ago. The chap-
believe that all ideas are equal, rather than lain asked him what he believed about life af-
all persons, you are confused and need a ter death, and the man replied that he had no
philosophy course. (Is the idea that all idea where he was going and he didn’t think
ideas are equal equal to the idea that they anyone else did either, because no one had
are not?) any idea where they came from in the first
place or why they are here.
 “Philosophy bakes no bread.” It does not
The chaplain disagreed. He said, “You
make you rich. It is contemplative, like
know the answers to those questions. You
monasticism. True. But why do we make
learned them as a little boy. You forgot them.
money and bread? Is money our means
But you can remember them now. It’s not too
(of exchange) to our end? Money is for
late. You learned the Baltimore Catechism,
bread, and bread is for man, and man is
didn’t you? Yes, you did. Do you remember
for truth. The ultimate end of human life is
how it begins?”
contemplative: knowing and appreciating
The man wrinkled his brow, retrieving
the truth. We will not be baking bread or
an old memory. “Yeah. It went like this: ‘Who
making money in Heaven, but we will be
made you? God made me. Why did God make
philosophizing.
you? God made me to know Him, to love
 Religion makes philosophy superfluous. Him and to serve Him in this world, and to
If you have faith, you don’t need reason. be happy with Him forever in the next.” The
Yes, you do: you need reason to understand man paused, lifted his eyes, and said, “You’re
your faith. And you need reason to know right. That’s true!” And a smile appeared on
whether your faith is the true faith. There his face. And then he died.
are many fakes. And how do you know You need philosophy and theology now
that unless you think about it? And if you because you will need it on your deathbed
don’t want to think about your faith, then later.
either you aren’t really very interested in

38 The Newman Guide

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