Comments on: Which Comes First, The Intellect Or The Will? (II) http://blog.solagratia.org/2006/04/27/which-comes-first-the-intellect-or-the-will-ii/ Dealing with issues in reformed theology. Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:59:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: The Land of Intellect http://blog.solagratia.org/2006/04/27/which-comes-first-the-intellect-or-the-will-ii/#comment-37631 The Land of Intellect Fri, 09 Nov 2007 09:17:53 +0000 http://blog.solagratia.org/2006/04/27/which-comes-first-the-intellect-or-the-will-ii/#comment-37631 Even though intellect is what makes us the most dangerous predator on Earth, modern man notably lacks will, compared to many other mammals. It is interesting that average humans act similarly to imprisoned apes. Thus, one may conclude that will should come first to our attention. On the other hand, when I look at free birds, particularly ravens (I live near one natural reserve with more than a hundred of endangered species) I can't help noticing they act more intelligently than many humans (some readers may have seen a video clip with a bird cracking a nut by using a car as a tool). So, it is a closed circle. One has to have a fighters spirit to defeat modern concepts of living and develop personal merit... Both will and intellect. One more issue, very interesting... Human IQ is lowering now. Homo sapiens became too lazy. Even though intellect is what makes us the most dangerous predator on Earth, modern man notably lacks will, compared to many other mammals. It is interesting that average humans act similarly to imprisoned apes. Thus, one may conclude that will should come first to our attention. On the other hand, when I look at free birds, particularly ravens (I live near one natural reserve with more than a hundred of endangered species) I can’t help noticing they act more intelligently than many humans (some readers may have seen a video clip with a bird cracking a nut by using a car as a tool). So, it is a closed circle. One has to have a fighters spirit to defeat modern concepts of living and develop personal merit… Both will and intellect.
One more issue, very interesting… Human IQ is lowering now. Homo sapiens became too lazy.

]]> By: Joseph http://blog.solagratia.org/2006/04/27/which-comes-first-the-intellect-or-the-will-ii/#comment-31593 Joseph Fri, 05 Oct 2007 18:04:30 +0000 http://blog.solagratia.org/2006/04/27/which-comes-first-the-intellect-or-the-will-ii/#comment-31593 I have to thank you for posting this series. I am currently working on my undergraduate senior thesis in philosophy and I am trying to answer the question of which comes first, knowledge or faith. I find your critique of great interest. Also, Plantinga and Edwards are two of my favourite writers- so to discuss them both in one sitting will always get my attention (even apart from my love for all things epistemological). I have to thank you for posting this series. I am currently working on my undergraduate senior thesis in philosophy and I am trying to answer the question of which comes first, knowledge or faith. I find your critique of great interest. Also, Plantinga and Edwards are two of my favourite writers- so to discuss them both in one sitting will always get my attention (even apart from my love for all things epistemological).

]]> By: Jeff http://blog.solagratia.org/2006/04/27/which-comes-first-the-intellect-or-the-will-ii/#comment-24838 Jeff Fri, 03 Aug 2007 03:33:53 +0000 http://blog.solagratia.org/2006/04/27/which-comes-first-the-intellect-or-the-will-ii/#comment-24838 This discussion reminds me a little of the desert amma and abbas understanding of "intellection", which is defined not by deductive reasoning but by what they termed as "simple cognition", the truth of something being immediately evident. Intellection, according to some medieval writers, is how the angels habitually understand things, while our own experience is a combination of intellectus--sudden insight-- and ratio. The simple cognition, one would think, involves a heavy aesthetic element. The beauty of God that converts the will and is the object of the affections? This discussion reminds me a little of the desert amma and abbas understanding of “intellection”, which is defined not by deductive reasoning but by what they termed as “simple cognition”, the truth of something being immediately evident. Intellection, according to some medieval writers, is how the angels habitually understand things, while our own experience is a combination of intellectus–sudden insight– and ratio.

The simple cognition, one would think, involves a heavy aesthetic element. The beauty of God that converts the will and is the object of the affections?

]]> By: David http://blog.solagratia.org/2006/04/27/which-comes-first-the-intellect-or-the-will-ii/#comment-588 David Wed, 10 May 2006 01:59:54 +0000 http://blog.solagratia.org/2006/04/27/which-comes-first-the-intellect-or-the-will-ii/#comment-588 Once again, an interesting and insightful article. Once again, an interesting and insightful article.

]]> By: Jonathan Moorhead http://blog.solagratia.org/2006/04/27/which-comes-first-the-intellect-or-the-will-ii/#comment-408 Jonathan Moorhead Tue, 02 May 2006 04:42:02 +0000 http://blog.solagratia.org/2006/04/27/which-comes-first-the-intellect-or-the-will-ii/#comment-408 Funny, I just posted on a similar issue. Personally, I don't think Plantinga has read Edwards right. Funny, I just posted on a similar issue.
Personally, I don’t think Plantinga has read Edwards right.

]]>