THEOLOGY AND HUMAN REASON IN THE ENCYCLICAL AETERNI PATRIS
Main Article Content
Abstract
First of all, we must analyze those sentences in Aeterni Patris where the word theology is used expitcitly or where one of its derivatives may be found. Such a study of the text leads us to three conclusions. First of all, Leo XIII describes theology as a science. Secondly, throughout its procedure, this science is aided by data received from historical research. In spite of this aid theology maintains its speculative status because it offers a more complete understanding of the object studied; that is to say, God and the mystery of our salvation. Lastly, theology attains a scientilic status, viz., fulfills its end, through the use of philosophy.
These conclusions appear to support the point of view which interprets the central interest of the encyclical as philosophical. Nevertheless, further analysis is required so as to reveal exactly what Leo XIII understood as philosophy with the hope of avoiding any equivocal notion of this understanding. A detailed study of Aeterni-Patris leads us to the conclusion that Leo XIII 'uses the term "Philosophy" in a very broad sense which does not coincide with the strictly academic meaning. In this encyclical "Philosophy" designates all use that man makes of his reason to understand reality. Furthermore, this term is applied to all truth apprehended by man's intelligence however profane or religious in character or however natural or supernatural in approach.
Leo XIll continues the anti-rationalist and anti-fideist contention which was so prevalent in the nineteenth century. He manifested less concern for epistemological precision than for what he considered to be a more important question. That is to say, he reminded all believers that faith and reason are not two separate worlds, that the faith can and must enrich the whole of intellectual life. With this in mind, to be faithful to the spirit of Aeterni Patris one must go beyond the letter and clearly denote the unifying character of the intellect. The restoration of christian thought that the encyclical asserts cannot be identified with a philosophical revival which would give way to a new theology. Rather, the encyclical is theological from the very beginning inasmuch as theology is not only the summit of christian thought but also its soul, its first manifestation from which all others are derived.
Details
Article Details
RIGHTS TRANSFER
By submitting the article for evaluation and subsequent publication in Scripta Theologica, the AUTHOR exclusively assigns the rights of public communication, reproduction, distribution and sale for commercial exploitation to the University of Navarra through its Publications Service, for the maximum legal term in force -the entire life of the author and seventy years after his death or declaration of death-, in any country, and in any of the current and future edition modalities, both in print and electronic versions.
In the event that the article is not accepted for publication , this transfer of rights lapses with the communication of the refusal to the AUTHOR.
The AUTHOR affirms that the article is unpublished, that it has not been sent simultaneously to another publication medium and that the rights have not been transferred exclusively previously. He is responsible to the University of Navarra through its Publications Service for the authorship and originality of his work, as well as for all pecuniary charges that may arise for the University of Navarra through its Publications Service, in favor of third parties due to actions, claims or conflicts arising from the breach of obligations by the AUTHOR.