It reminds me of when I taught introduction to psychology. I would begin the class by showing them the scene from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" about witch burning (https://youtu.be/SfKh80BHSnk?si=b6FRL2EVcNoiiN6J). I would ask the students what was wrong with the argument used to determine the woman is a witch.
They would begin with rather sober arguments based in logic but would very quickly get frustrated when I pointed out the flaws in their critiques. Eventually, they would give up and ask, "Ok, what's the problem with the argument?"
"There are," I would tell them, "no such things as witches." And here is Chesterton's point (and my about psychology as a science) our arguments are only as good as our presuppositions. If we begin with false presuppositions, then even the best logic (or empirical science) will lead us to false conclusions.
I am indeed in Mad City and the chaplain for Orthodox students at UW-Madison. I teach now at St Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Seminary in South Bound Brook NJ and taught psychology at Shasta College in Redding, CA.
And I'd add, true presuppositions are not enough. We must not only be reasonable but virtuous. Good laws entrusted to bad men, Socrates says in the Laws, make us not slaves but fools.
Well said. Virtue is required for the intellectual life. George MacDonald, I believe, once said, "to give truth to him who loves it not is but to give him more plentiful material for misinterpretation."
I think he was just trying to make a clever point about presuppositions, how much they matter, how often we don’t even think about them, etc. If a witch is someone who practices witchcraft, then obviously there are witches.
Thanks for the post!
It reminds me of when I taught introduction to psychology. I would begin the class by showing them the scene from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" about witch burning (https://youtu.be/SfKh80BHSnk?si=b6FRL2EVcNoiiN6J). I would ask the students what was wrong with the argument used to determine the woman is a witch.
They would begin with rather sober arguments based in logic but would very quickly get frustrated when I pointed out the flaws in their critiques. Eventually, they would give up and ask, "Ok, what's the problem with the argument?"
"There are," I would tell them, "no such things as witches." And here is Chesterton's point (and my about psychology as a science) our arguments are only as good as our presuppositions. If we begin with false presuppositions, then even the best logic (or empirical science) will lead us to false conclusions.
Thanks again for the post!
In Christ,
Fr Gregory
Dear Fr. Gregory, thank you for engaging our work!
"If we begin with false presuppositions, then even the best logic (or empirical science) will lead us to false conclusions."
That is exactly right!
When and where did you teach, if you don't mind me (Wesley) asking? I see you are now in Badgerville, aka Madison, WI.
Thanks!
I am indeed in Mad City and the chaplain for Orthodox students at UW-Madison. I teach now at St Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Seminary in South Bound Brook NJ and taught psychology at Shasta College in Redding, CA.
And I'd add, true presuppositions are not enough. We must not only be reasonable but virtuous. Good laws entrusted to bad men, Socrates says in the Laws, make us not slaves but fools.
Well said. Virtue is required for the intellectual life. George MacDonald, I believe, once said, "to give truth to him who loves it not is but to give him more plentiful material for misinterpretation."
What do you mean when you say there are no witches? Is that just on the video or is that your presupposition?
I think he was just trying to make a clever point about presuppositions, how much they matter, how often we don’t even think about them, etc. If a witch is someone who practices witchcraft, then obviously there are witches.