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You make good points. On Jaspers, he practically defined existentialism, and explicated the importance of Nietzsche and Kierkegaard to the "problem of modernity", giving something of obvious sociological importance, i.e., the disruption of traditional communities in the face of technological change and the uprooting of peoples, a firmer philosophical grounding....Jaspers suggests an approach to orienting ourselves in a world which is not fully grasped by the intellect, but remains more encompassing than subjective experience. Buber helps us to understand what that orientation would entail if it were explicitly religious, and the importance of not shrugging off the possibility that when we confront reality, we ultimately confront a "Thou"....Thomism has been a strong force, even among non- Catholics, but somewhat indirectly. Although the revival of interest in Plato and Aristotle in the English speaking world at the turn of the century was largely inspired by neo- Hegelianism, the continued mining of pre- Cartesian philosophy was mainly carried forward in a "neo- Thomist" context. Heidegger, by the way, was Catholic (lapsed, of course), and it may have affected his own interest in classical philosophy. Leo Strauss, although a Jew, and indebted to Heidegger, gained a great deal from the resurgent interest in Medieval philosophy associated with Thomism. The Natural Law tradition has been influential in providing a basis for moral and legal analysis, as well....Neibuhr is an interesting person to mention, and I would be happy to entertain any further thoughts on him...Your last observation is quite correct! |
