This is the first of many expected posts... thoughts from my theology class.
I was reading about 'Enlightenment rationalism' wherein it was thought that all knowledge could be built rationally upon self-evident first principles plus reason. Euclidean geometry was one of the celebrated concepts due to its internal consistency. However later non-Euclidean geometry systems were developed which also showed such internal consistency. It eventually became evident that there was no solitary starting point ('self-evident first principles') upon which to build a solid foundation for all subsequent knowledge. There would always be alternative foundations which would lead to an equally justifiable difference of conclusion (i.e. from another persons' concept built on a different foundation).
In apologetics this speaks against those who claim to achieve the superior position by the power of reason alone. (This was not a specific idea raised in the discussion on theology. So the main discussion was that issues of theology could not be developed solely on rationalism derived from first principles.)
I was reading about 'Enlightenment rationalism' wherein it was thought that all knowledge could be built rationally upon self-evident first principles plus reason. Euclidean geometry was one of the celebrated concepts due to its internal consistency. However later non-Euclidean geometry systems were developed which also showed such internal consistency. It eventually became evident that there was no solitary starting point ('self-evident first principles') upon which to build a solid foundation for all subsequent knowledge. There would always be alternative foundations which would lead to an equally justifiable difference of conclusion (i.e. from another persons' concept built on a different foundation).
In apologetics this speaks against those who claim to achieve the superior position by the power of reason alone. (This was not a specific idea raised in the discussion on theology. So the main discussion was that issues of theology could not be developed solely on rationalism derived from first principles.)
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