The considerations allow us to say that ancient literature (even in philosophical sphere) was important for the Church writers not only by its rhetorical function, but also by the historical one to give a full and complete view of ancient culture as well as various myths and superstitions accepted by well educated pagan groups of the late Roman Empire. The discussed questions should be more particularly analyzed using Greek-language editions and modem historical literature. The works of Theodoret can also answer other questions raised by historians.
RELIGIOUS INSPIRATION IN ST. THOMAS AQUINAS’ NATURAL SCIENCE SYSTEMThe article discusses chief aspects of religious inspiration of the views of St. Thomas on science. The main tenets of the Christian religion provided the Dominican scholar with an opportunity for critical assessment of various views of Aristotle and other Greek thinkers. As he built his system of metaphysical knowledge, Aquinas often spoke on subjects of nature and scientifi c methodology. His discussions reveal multiple religious infl uences and a religious inspiration to expand the fi eld of the human vision of the world while preserving the autonomy of respective sciences. Study of his views helps place the distinguished 13th-century author in the history of scientifi c development in Western thought.
The article presents the universe in cosmology of the Venerable Bede, British scholar of the eighth century. Bede’s description of the world as whole was made by the knowledge of ancient (Pliny the Elder) and Christian (St. Isidore of Seville). Geocentric cosmos conceived as a system of fixed stars and the planets on the circles. Celestial bodies are made of fire. On Earth, there are four elements. Bede was interested in philosophy of nature and enrichment of scientific knowledge with the theological reflection. Cosmology of Bede represents an important stage of development of science in Western Christianity in the early Middle Ages.
PL
Artykuł przedstawia wszechświat w kosmologii Bedy Czcigodnego, brytyjskiego uczonego z VIII wieku. Beda opisywał świat za pomocą elementów wiedzy antycznej (Pliniusz Starszy) i chrześcijańskiej (św. Izydor z Sewilli). Kosmos pojmował jako geocentryczny system gwiazd osadzonych na sferze niebieskiej i planet krążących na okręgach. Ciała niebieskie zbudowane są z ognia. Na Ziemi występują cztery żywioły. Będą interesuje się przyrodoznawstwem i wzbogaca wiedzę naukową z pomocą refleksji teologicznej. Kosmologia Bedy stanowi ważny etap rozwoju nauk w zachodnim chrześcijaństwie wczesnego średniowiecza.
The present article discusses the vision of the future presented by the French Jesuit and paleontologist, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. After introducing Teilhard’s main ideas, the author discusses his views on religion and the Church, and then presents the end of history according to Teilhard, which is intended to unify the cosmos and humanity with God in a monistic synthesis – the final result of convergent evolution. The article makes use of the works of de Chardin and the many publications that have been written about his philosophy.
The paper discusses the principles and the course of the reform of the liturgy of the Missal and Breviary in the Roman Church in the 20th century, in particular for the pontificates of Pius XII and John XXIII. These reforms were discussed against the background of the classic era (of the 19th century and earlier) and in comparison with the reforms of the Second Vatican Council and of Paul VI. The rituals of that era were simplified, renewed in a community spirit and adapted to the mentality of contemporary man and to the new way of life, to the conditions of industrial society. "Acta Apostolicae Sedis".
PL
Artykuł omawia zasady i przebieg reformy liturgii Mszału i Brewiarza w Kościele rzymskim w XX wieku, a zwłaszcza za pontyfikatów Piusa XII i Jana XXIII. Reformy te omówiono na tle epoki klasycznej (XIX w. i wcześniej) oraz w porównaniu do reform II Soboru Watykańskiego i Pawła VI. Obrzędy w tej epoce zostały uproszczone, odnowione w duchu wspólnotowym i dostosowane do mentalności współczesnego człowieka i do nowego sposobu życia, do warunków społeczeństwa przemysłowego. „Acta Apostolicae Sedis”.
UNA VOCE DICENTES. THE HIERARCHICAL VISION OF REALITY IN THE TRIDENTINE RITE MASS AND ITS THEOLOGICAL JUSTIFICATIONThe article uses characteristic examples to present a hierarchic order of reality as seen in gestures, acts, and prayers of the Catholic Tridentine Mass ritual, which was in use from the early Middle Ages (when it had developed this form in Western Church) until Paul VI’s reforms of 1969. This liturgy, recently (2007) appreciated by pope Benedict XVI and cleared for free use by priests as an „extraordinary form of the Roman rite”, expresses with great force, using a number of complex symbols, the Catholic vision of the natural and supernatural world. The various aspects of the ritual were grounded in acts of the Magisterium and in theologians’ writings as cited in notes.
The article discusses various inspirations in the philosophy of Copernicus. According to the author of the text, scholastic views were of key importance in the reflections of the Polish astronomer. In addition, there are influences of the open Christian Aristotelism and also refrences to Platonism. Basically, the scholar belongs to the philosophy of the late Middle Ages as he referred to the thought of John Buridan, Wojciech Brudzewski and other Polish and Western scholastic authors. To sum up, the conducted research shows that in a general sense Nicolaus Copernicus may be classified as a well- educated scholastic master and medieval philosopher, an open thinker of the Late Middle Ages. More detailed study on various influences and inspirations adopted in his reflection results in the following approximate summary: Copernicus’ philosophy is medieval in its three quarters and Renaissanse in one quarter. Hence, three quarters are scholastic and traditional while one quarter is innovative. Innovation-novelty- was decisive for meaning and gradual success of the work of the Polish astronomer, however, it was tradition that enabled this novelty and paved the way to the new vision of the world. Physics of Copernicus is a modified Aristotelism and rules of the order and hierarchy are classified as Christian Platonism and Pythagoreism.
The aim of the article is to compare two versions of Christian aristotelism in cosmology: that of Aquinas and of Benedict Chmielowski. The author points to the historiosophic message provided by the long history of this philosophy in Europe. Reflections of the author are the source and inspiration for a general reflection. Both scholars have explained the world in the light of tradition, although they have been dealing with new theoretical ideas in cosmology.
In summarizing the conducted research we may state that in the most general sense, Nicolaus Copernicus essentially was a systematically educated Scholastic and medieval philosopher, an open Scholastic mind of the late Middle Ages. Attempting to conduct a closer research on various impacts and inspirations which influenced his reflection allows to formulate the following general assessment: the philosophy of Copernicus is medieval in three quarters and Renaissance one in one quarter. In three quarters it is Scholastic and traditional while in one quarter – novel. Obviously, it was the novelty that seems decisive for the recognition and further gradual success of the Polish astronomer. Nonetheless, it was the traditional thought on which novelty developed in paving its way to the refashioned picture of the world. Therefore, we may assume that the physics of Copernicus is the modified Aristotelianism whereas the laws of the order and hierarchy he employs derive from the Christian Platonism and Pythagoreanism. Such estimation is crucial for establishing proportions in a debate with numerous predominating in literature, popular, one-sided views which resonate with misleading opinions and even propaganda.
The article concerns the Thomistic philosophy present in the mainstream of Polish Roman-Catolic integrism, i.e. among the supporters and adherents of the Priestly Society of the Saint Pius X (FSSPX). The main aspects of this environment's activities were presented in terms of philosophical issues. The article is based on the latest publications and effects of this environment, based on the author's own research. As a result of research, it was found that Catholic traditionalists often refer to Thomistic philosophy, as recommended by popes and Christian philosophers in the 19th and the first half of the 20th century. According to the Catholic authors in Poland, advocating the pre-Vatican II tradition, Thomistic philosophy is not only a useful tool for expressing a realistic and religious vision of the world, but also an effective means of practicing apologetics for the traditionally understood Catholic vision of the world, man and society. The advantages of Thomism in this environment are: realism, objectivity, openness to divine revelation, respect for history, catholic holiness and supernaturalism. According to traditionalists, Thomism is the only perpetual philosophy and rescue against nihilism, subjectivism and individualism of our time, always recommended by popes.
The article is devoted to a book by David lnving. Goebbels. Mózg Trzeciej Rzeszy (Goebbels, Brain of the Third Reich) published in the Polish translation in 1998.
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