De Bibliotheek van de Boston University heeft de dissertaties
en theses uit de tijd dat ze nog met typemachines werden gemaakt,
gedigitaliseerd. Ook de MA-thesis van Gordon
Clement Wickersham. Eerst even over wie hij was:
Uit zijn obituary: Gordon C. Wickersham, age 87, of Bourbonnais,
passed away on Friday, December 27, 2013 at home. Gordon was born on May 23,
1926 to Ross and Olive (Clement) Wickersham in Binghamton, NY. He received his
Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy and English from Olivet Nazarene University. He
went on and received a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from Boston University and
a second Master’s Degree in Philosophy from Nazarene Theological Seminary. He
married the former Marva Davis on March 31, 1950 at Kansas City First Church of
the Nazarene in Kansas City, MO. He spent 8 years pastoring churches in South
Texas and Chicago area. He worked at Bethany Nazarene College for 11 years as
Publicity Director as well as Alumni Director. He then worked at Olivet
Nazarene University for 20 years in student recruitment and as Publicity
Director before his retirement in 1992. After retirement he worked part time as
the Religion Editor for the Daily Journal. He enjoyed photography and loved
music.” Zijn MA-thesis is gedigitaliseerd:
Gordon Clement Wickersham, Spinoza's concept of God's infinity.
MA-thesis Boston University, 1951 – cf. & PDF
Abstract: The fundamental principle of the philosophy
of Benedict de Spinoza is the necessary and absolute infinity of God. He
defined God as an absolutely infinite being. This concept is the starting point
of his philosophy. All of his thinking is God-centered. The proof of his
principle of infinity is presented in the Ethics, Book I. Spinoza began with an
intuitive notion of God. He expressed his intuitive beliefs in definitions and
axioms to begin the structure of his philosophy. The propositions and proofs
which follow are rational explanations of the intuitive definitions. The
reality of God is proven by the necessity for a First Cause, a self-caused
being. The infinity of God is affirmed because God is the only substance which
can possess the attribute of existence. There is no other being of the same
kind as God; therefore nothing exists which can limit God. All particular
things flow necessarily from the nature of God. All reality is in God.
Everything that is, is God. [TRUNCATED] Spinoza disagreed fundamentally with
Christianity. He denied the personality of God essential to the Christian
faith. He did not comprehend the meaning of Christ's incarnation, but believed
that Jesus perceived and taught the highest truths. Spinoza objected to
irrational belief in miracles and mysteries as a basis for faith in the
Infinite God. He rejected the idea of sin, and denied the freedom of the human
will to choose good or evil. The Christian doctrine of salvation is by
forgiveness of sins through repentance and faith. Spinoza denied the
possibility of sins against God, and condemned repentance as pain, or evil
resulting from fear. Spinoza and Christianity agree that love is the highest
function of God and man. But Spinoza's intellectual love consisting in the
mental comprehension of the necessary truths of the universe is not to be
compared with the glorious love of the Christian God which is shared and
reciprocated by finite men in a personal union of spirit with the infinite God.
Spinoza's concept of God's infinity is perhaps the greatest concept held about
God. It is exalting to think about the Infinite God. That Infinite God can
achieve real meaning, however, only as he is the Perfect Person. Perfect
Personality does not limit the being of God. This is the highest concept of God
possible. The highest function of man is to participate in the Infinite Love of
the Infinitely Perfect Person of God.”
Aan het per se willen lezen van Spinoza’s “Infinite
God” als “Perfect Person” zie je het christelijke van de auteur. Ook “Substance
possess the attribute of existence” is een wat onspinozistische omschrijving. Voor
wie zich nog eens speciaal met Gods Oneindigheid wil bezighouden, kan het
wellicht nuttig zijn van deze thesis kennis te nemen.
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten