Classical Theism, Philosophy, and Religion Forum / Greetings and Salutations

**Posted by quotidian** 7/13/2015 10:33 pm

I am now an old hand on internet forums, having been a poster to Philosophy Forum for some years, and being a mod on another forum. My philosophical views are anti-materialist, which is what drew me to Ed Feser's books - I first perused the amazon page for Last Superstition, then his blog and various other publications. I'm not myself Catholic but I am very drawn to Christian Platonism and find that the Thomists provide the most (or even only) coherent form of traditional metaphysics in Western culture.

One question I would like to explore here is the battle between nominalism and (medieval) realism. I have read some interesting historical analyses, for instance M A Gillespie's The Theological Origins of Modernity (which Dr Feser reviewed.) As I said, I'm drawn to Platonism, and am very sympathetic to the (medieval) realist attitude, which I think to all intents is only preserved in Thomism. So those are the areas I'm interested in exploring.

**Posted by Flaccus** 7/17/2015 6:23 am

Welcome, quotidian! Have you read much of Proclus? His commentary on Euclid's first book of the Elements might be right up your alley.

**Posted by quotidian** 7/22/2015 6:31 am

That's probably a good idea. I have picked up many snippets of Platonism, from anthologies and scattered journal articles, but I must confess to feeling rather daunted by the prospect of diving right into it. I have read some introductory material on Proclus and found him very interesting indeed. But life is short.

**Posted by Scott** 7/22/2015 8:29 am

Welcome aboard, quotidian!

Have you read this?

**Posted by quotidian** 7/29/2015 8:24 pm

That seems very much on point, and is also in the uni library where I'm an alumni member - so thanks, will look into it.

**Posted by quotidian** 7/29/2015 10:31 pm

actually there's a very good preview of that volume on Google Books, for anyone interested.

**Posted by iwpoe** 7/30/2015 2:03 am

Welcome!

I'm interested in Scholasticism for the same Platonic reasons you are. I've been trying to work out a succinct and explicitly Platonic viewpoint through the work of Lloyd Gerson on here and elsewhere, and I would love to have people who are interested in that. I tend to flag off in posting when I think no one cares.

Last edited by iwpoe (7/30/2015 2:09 am)

**Posted by DanielCC** 7/30/2015 5:48 am

iwpoe wrote:
Welcome!

I'm interested in Scholasticism for the same Platonic reasons you are. I've been trying to work out a succinct and explicitly Platonic viewpoint through the work of Lloyd Gerson on here and elsewhere, and I would love to have people who are interested in that. I tend to flag off in posting when I think no one cares.

Why don't you give us a post on a Platonic theistic proof or better yet an alternative epistemological account of how we grasp universals? I’m not asking this in a combative way – I’d generally be interested in seeing more posts on those subjects – if not then the boards get a bit Thomism heavy.

**Posted by iwpoe** 7/30/2015 5:57 am

DanielCC wrote:
iwpoe wrote:
Welcome!

I'm interested in Scholasticism for the same Platonic reasons you are. I've been trying to work out a succinct and explicitly Platonic viewpoint through the work of Lloyd Gerson on here and elsewhere, and I would love to have people who are interested in that. I tend to flag off in posting when I think no one cares.
Why don't you give us a post on a Platonic theistic proof or better yet an alternative epistemological account of how we grasp universals? I’m not asking this in a combative way – I’d generally be interested in seeing more posts on those subjects – if not then the boards get a bit Thomism heavy.

Well, let me get back on the project in a more general way so I can lead into that. My depression has creept back in in the last month or so and I start to be unable to tell whether I'm boring or simply not expressing myself.