Partial Notes on History of Western Philosophy

(Originally written June 15, 2006 in Book 1)

This seems to be a nice chance for reflection. These next few entries are past writings of mine that are loose. I am copying them and tossing the originals. These will be nearly identical.

I. Partial notes from History of Western Philosophy by Bertrand Russell

Sparta influenced Dr. Thomas Arnold & the English public schools. Sparta influenced Rousseau. Sparta influenced National Socialism. Sparta influenced Nietzsche.

Spartan society was the model for perfect communism. Boys were raised from birth to be fully devoted to the state. Land was owned by the state, but granted to individuals. "It was a theory of the state that no Spartan citizen should be destitute and none should be rich" (Russell, 95).

Plato's view of Socrates' last days: Socrates was given a plan to escape death after being convicted. Socrates reportedly states: "We ought not to retaliate evil for evil to anyone, whatever evil we may have suffered from him" (Russell, 133). This is Christ's sermon on the mount.

Death is the separation of soul and body according to Socrates. Mirrors Paul, 'to die is to gain'.

"Therefore while we are in the body and while the soul is infected with the evils of our body, our desire for truth will not be satisfied" (Russell, 136-137).

Christian paraphrase: "Therefore while we are in the body, and of the flesh, the soul is inflicted with the evils of the flesh or the evils of sin nature, our desire for truth, which can only come from God, will not be satisfied.

Russell argues that this viewpoint excludes all empirical evidence and scientific observation. However, this is simply not true. This statement only says that while we are under the influence of our sin nature we cannot have the truth of God in us. We can look at empirical evidence and derive truth or knowledge of it, but we cannot obtain absolute truth of God. For example we can scientifically observe the growth of an apple tree. We can plant the seed and watch it grow over time. We can carefully observe the maturation process and test the fruit when it is ready. We have scientific documentation of the growth of the apple tree and its fruit. We have scientific documentation of the growth of the apple tree and its fruit. We have knowledge (or truth) of where an apple comes from. The apple comes from the apple tree. The apple tree came from the seed we planted. The seed we planted came from the apple we picked. The apple we picked came from another tree, and so on, and so on. We have the truth where our apple came from. But, where did the original apple come from? There must have been a seed before a tree and a tree before an apple. To know the truth of the origin of the original apple we must seek a non-empirical source of truth. This truth, the original and absolute truth lies in God. God created the original apple tree, therefore God is the original source of the apple. And since the apple is the source of our empirical evidence and truth, God is the original source of truth.

(Speaking today, 06/15/2006, you and I can see that this is the classic argument for God's existence by first cause. However, at the time I wrote that previous paragraph I knew nothing of arguments from cause and had not studied Aquinas at all. I find that very interesting and somewhat comical).