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Salient. The Newspaper of Victoria University College. Vol. 19, No. 8. July 1, 1955

God and Philosophy

God and Philosophy

Summary of a lecture given to the VUC Philosophical Society in the Staff Common Room, June 8, 8 p.m., by Rev. Dr. Duggan, S.M., D.D.

Some modern philosophers contend that the existence of God is not properly a philosophical question. This is not the view of most of the great philosophers of history, nor is it shared by modern scholastics.

The Scholastics define philosophy as "the rational interpretation of the whole of reality in terms of its ultimate causes." Dr. Duggan explained the various elements in this definition and pointed out how, in such a conception of philosophy there must be a place for the question of God's existence.

The Implications

He then went on to expound the implications of the thesis that God exists, and outlined the proofs from the contingency of the visible universe, the manifoldness of its being, and the fact that it exhibits a dynamic order.

He also drew attention to various characteristics of the Thomistic proofs, and remarked that they were not like theorems in geometry but rather resembled the solution of a murder mystery, in which the detective has to determine whether it is a case of accidental death or murder, then find the murderer and if possible the motive for the crime.

Diligence and Humility

Finally, he pointed out that one's appreciation of the force of the arguments for theism is not solely a matter of intellectual acumen or dialectical skill, but because of the issues involved, calls for diligence, humility and courage la seeking an answer to the question: Does God exist? He concluded by reading G. K. Chesterton's poem "The Three' Wise Men."

The talk provoked a lively but good-tempered discussion, which continued, apart from a break for coffee, until 10.30 p.m.