Problem of Philosophy: Psychology, Logic, and Imago Dei
This was one of my favorite sections of this book! This section can be broken down into three main topics: psychology, logic, and the question of innate knowledge.
The psychology of this section can be found in his discussion in chapter 6. He talks about how humans automatically assume future events will occur based off of past events. This is how human brains are wired. The brain loves patterns. It cannot function without them. Unfortunately, this is how stereotypes come about. The brain sorts people and events into categories so that it can make decisions quickly and easily.
Logic is sprinkled throughout the whole of these chapters. In fact, Russel's main focus is on induction and how humans function based on it. He refers to what I described above as induction. It appears as though the majority of what human beings know is based off of what they experience.
However, the part that really caught my attention was the idea of innate knowledge. As he pointed out, people have an innate idea of good and bad that does not come from experience. This reminds me of the passage in Romans that says the law of God is written on man's heart. This is where innate knowledge comes from. People are made in the image of God, which is why they have consciences and this knowledge that seems unexplainable. God wired our brains to think systematically, logically, and morally. He breathed life in us and whispered His law in our hearts. This is the only explanation. When I read stuff like Russel's work, I get amazed at the complexity our brains can think, which is why this was my favorite section to read.
P.S. I commented on Will and Ethan's posts.
The psychology of this section can be found in his discussion in chapter 6. He talks about how humans automatically assume future events will occur based off of past events. This is how human brains are wired. The brain loves patterns. It cannot function without them. Unfortunately, this is how stereotypes come about. The brain sorts people and events into categories so that it can make decisions quickly and easily.
Logic is sprinkled throughout the whole of these chapters. In fact, Russel's main focus is on induction and how humans function based on it. He refers to what I described above as induction. It appears as though the majority of what human beings know is based off of what they experience.
However, the part that really caught my attention was the idea of innate knowledge. As he pointed out, people have an innate idea of good and bad that does not come from experience. This reminds me of the passage in Romans that says the law of God is written on man's heart. This is where innate knowledge comes from. People are made in the image of God, which is why they have consciences and this knowledge that seems unexplainable. God wired our brains to think systematically, logically, and morally. He breathed life in us and whispered His law in our hearts. This is the only explanation. When I read stuff like Russel's work, I get amazed at the complexity our brains can think, which is why this was my favorite section to read.
P.S. I commented on Will and Ethan's posts.
I really do admire how logical Russell tries to be. I appreciate his desire to get down as far as he can to the basics, but like I was saying in my post, I really wish he'd just set some things as axioms and move on. But yes, the innate knowledge section really reminded me as Romans as well!!
ReplyDeleteWhat I think is so funny about Russell is that there many parallels to the Bible in his logic. However, as we witnessed before he denies the idea of necessary anything; which is the very foundation of 70-something percent of world religions. For us, God existed from and into eternity. We are made in "Imago Dei" as you said, Sophia. All other matter and life also originates from the necessary God source.
ReplyDelete