The Degrees of Knowledge

by Maritain, Jacques

• ISBN13: 9780268008864
• ISBN10: 0268008868
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-01-01
• Publisher: Univ of Notre Dame Pr

Summary

Distinguer pour unir, ou Les degres du savoir was first published in 1932 by Jacques Maritain. In this new translation of The Degrees of Knowledge, Ralph McInerny attempts a more careful expression of Maritain's original masterpiece than previous translations. Maritain proposes a hierarchy of the forms of knowledge by discussing the degrees of rational and suprarational understanding. Nine appendices, some longer than the chapters of the book, advance Maritain's thought, often by taking on criticism of earlier editions of the work. Rightly called Maritain's cardinal work, The Degrees of Knowledge is a magnificent and sagacious achievement.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Original French Edition	ix
Postscript to the Second Edition	xv
Postscript to the Third Edition	xvi
Foreword	xvii
Introduction	xix
Ralph McInerny
Maritain Chronology	xxii
The Majesty and Poverty of Metaphysics	1	(22)
First Part: The Degrees of Rational Knowledge: Philosophy and Experimental Science
Philosophy and Experimental Science	23	(52)
The Object of This Chapter	23	(14)
Science in General
Necessity and Contingency
A Digression on ``Determinism in Nature''
Another Digression. How Do We Attain Essences?
Sciences of Explanation (In the Full Sense of the Word) and Sciences of Observation
The Degrees of Abstraction	37	(13)
Table of the Sciences
Science and Philosophy	50	(25)
Clarifications on the Notion of Fact
The Structures and Methods of the Principal Kinds of Knowledge
The Proper Conditions for Philosophy Its Relation to Facts
Knowledge of the Physico-Mathematical Type and Philosophy
Knowledge of a Biological and Psychological Kind Conclusion
Speculative Philosophy	73	(2)
Critical Realism	75	(70)
``Critical Realism''	75	(11)
Scio aliquid esse
Realism and Common Sense	86	(32)
Truth
Thing and Object
Digression on Phenomenology and the Cartesian Meditations
Concerning Idealism
Concerning Knowledge Itself	118	(27)
The Concept
Idealistic Positions and Attempts at Reaction
The Universe of Existence and the Universe of Intelligibility
Being of Reason
Knowledge of Sensible Nature	145	(70)
The Main Types of Knowing	145	(39)
Modern Physics Considered in its General Epistemological Type
Real Being and Being of Reason in Physico-Mathematical Knowledge
Ontological Explanation and Empiriological
Explanation and Some Recastings of the Notion of Causality
The New Physics
A Digression on the Question of ``Real Space''
The Philosophy of Nature	184	(12)
Complementary Elucidations
Mechanism	196	(19)
Dangerous Liaisons
Ontology and Empiriology in the Study of the Living Organism
The Anti-Mechanist Reaction in Biology
Concerning the True and the False Philosophy of the Progress of the Sciences in Modern Times
Metaphysical Knowledge	215	(48)
Dianoetic Intellection and Perinoetic Intellection	215	(9)
Scholastic Digression
The Human Intelligence and Corporeal Natures
The Metaphysical Intelligible	224	(16)
The Metaphysical Transintelligible and Ananoetic Intellection
The Divine Names	240	(23)
The Name of Person
The Way of Knowing and the Way of Non-Knowing
The Superanalogy of Faith
Second Part: The Degrees of Suprarational Knowledge
Mystical Experience and Philosophy	263	(47)
The Three Wisdoms	263	(7)
Sanctifying Grace	270	(12)
The Indwelling of the Divine Persons in the Soul
The Gifts of the Holy Ghost
Knowledge by Connaturality
Fides Illustrata Donis
Transition to a Few Problems	282	(28)
Is There an Authentic Mystical Experience in the Natural Order?
First Objection
Second Objection
Third Objection
Does Metaphysics of Itself Demand Mystical Experience?
Natural Analogies of Mystical Experience Connections Between Metaphysics and Mysticism
Augustinian Wisdom	310	(19)
A Typical Problem
The Gift of Wisdom Making Use of Discourse
Platonic Reason and the Gifts of the Holy Ghost
The Character of Augustine's Doctrine
Augustinism and Technical Differentiations Within Christian Thought
Thomas Aquinas, Augustine's Heir
Thomism and Augustinism
St. John of the Cross, Practitioner of Contemplation	329	(46)
Communicable Knowledge and Incommunicable Knowledge	329	(1)
The Speculative Order and the Practical Order	330	(8)
Practically Practical Science
The Practical Science of Contemplation
The Meaning of Human Life	338	(8)
Theological Faith
The ``Practicality'' of St. John of the Cross' Vocabulary	346	(13)
The Doctrine of the Void
Mystical Contemplation	359	(16)
Contemplative Purity and Poverty of Spirit
Todo Y Nada	375	(121)
Appendixes
Appendix I: The Concept	411	(31)
Appendix II: On Analogy	442	(4)
Appendix III: What God Is	446	(8)
Appendix IV: On the Notion of Subsistence	454	(15)
Further Elucidations (1954)
Appendix V: On a Work of Father Gardeil	469	(6)
Appendix VI: Some Clarifications	475	(6)
Appendix VII: ``Speculative'' and 'Practical''	481	(9)
I. On the Proper Mode of Moral Philosophy
II. General Remarks About the Speculative and Practical
Appendix VIII: ``Le Amara Tanto Como es Amada''	490	(3)
Appendix IX: The ``Cautelas'' of St. John of the Cross	493	(3)
Index	496