Is it worthwhile studying philosophy on your own?

[PadraigPearce]

I read a lot of books on religion and the spiritual life, but lately I’ve been thinking it would be a good idea to go back to basics and study a bit of philosophy. I’ve read some introductory books on Thomism and even started to nibble at the edges of the Summa, but is it possible to do it on your own? I’m wary about the idea of getting into philosophy books and just getting more confused. I just want to understand the precepts of the faith in a way that’s deeper than the catechism or apologetics books, but I have no intention of becoming a philosopher.
So what do people here think? Is it worthwhile to spend the time learning a little bit about Thomism, or would I be wasting my time? Would just learning the basics be helpful for understanding the faith?

 

[Joe_5859]

I read a lot of books on religion and the spiritual life, but lately I’ve been thinking it would be a good idea to go back to basics and study a bit of philosophy. I’ve read some introductory books on Thomism and even started to nibble at the edges of the Summa, but is it possible to do it on your own? I’m wary about the idea of getting into philosophy books and just getting more confused. I just want to understand the precepts of the faith in a way that’s deeper than the catechism or apologetics books, but I have no intention of becoming a philosopher.
So what do people here think? Is it worthwhile to spend the time learning a little bit about Thomism, or would I be wasting my time? Would just learning the basics be helpful for understanding the faith?

As Aquinas said, philosophy is the handmaiden of theology. It is really helpful to have a grasp of philosophy when approaching our (eminently reasonable) Catholic faith.

I would highly recommend reading some of Peter Kreeft’s books. He’s a philosophy professor at Boston College (but don’t let that dissuade you! ) and has written a great number of philosophical books. I’d start with his Philosophy 101 book if you’re looking for a good general intro to philosophy. He’s got some other great ones like A Refutation of Moral Relativism, too. You pretty much can’t go wrong with anything he’s written.

 

[JDaniel]

I read a lot of books on religion and the spiritual life, but lately I’ve been thinking it would be a good idea to go back to basics and study a bit of philosophy. I’ve read some introductory books on Thomism and even started to nibble at the edges of the Summa, but is it possible to do it on your own? I’m wary about the idea of getting into philosophy books and just getting more confused. I just want to understand the precepts of the faith in a way that’s deeper than the catechism or apologetics books, but I have no intention of becoming a philosopher.
So what do people here think? Is it worthwhile to spend the time learning a little bit about Thomism, or would I be wasting my time? Would just learning the basics be helpful for understanding the faith?

Padraig:

Hmmm. I’m not so sure I would. It might be better to seek out a Priest who is not afraid to study Theology along with Philosophy with you, and, of course, has the time. Or, take some courses at a Catholic College, if one is not too distant.

Welcome to CAF
God bless,
jd

 

[JohnDamian]

I read a lot of books on religion and the spiritual life, but lately I’ve been thinking it would be a good idea to go back to basics and study a bit of philosophy. I’ve read some introductory books on Thomism and even started to nibble at the edges of the Summa, but is it possible to do it on your own? I’m wary about the idea of getting into philosophy books and just getting more confused. I just want to understand the precepts of the faith in a way that’s deeper than the catechism or apologetics books, but I have no intention of becoming a philosopher.
So what do people here think? Is it worthwhile to spend the time learning a little bit about Thomism, or would I be wasting my time? Would just learning the basics be helpful for understanding the faith?

I speak from experience; I am fully self-educated in philosophy. It is very easy to learn philosophy - it merely takes getting the right foundation. That would be taking things in order; as one flows from the other;

For an understanding of Scholasiticism you would need to go in this order: This is the “essential” reading;

Plato (Republic)
Aristotle (Organon; Prior Analytics; Posterior Analytics)
Epictetus (Discourses)
Proclus (Elements of Theology)
St Augustine (Confessions; City of God)
Abelard (Sentances)
St Peter Damian (Divine Omnipotence)
Avicenna (Kitab al-Najat)
Averroes (Commentaries)
Alexander of Hales (Summa Frateris)
St Bonaventure (Commentaries on Sentances)
St Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologica)
Henry of Ghent (Quodlibetal Discourses)
Bl. Duns Scotus (Opus Oxoniense, Tractatus de Primo Principio)
William of Ockham (Summa logicae)
William of Alnwick (Additiones magnae)
Francis Mayron (Scripta super libros Sententiarum)

Feel absolutely free to ask any questions on these; either here or in PM.

It is entirely possible to self-educate.