Jakiej filozofii potrzebuje teologia?

The author of the essay, drawing his inspiration from John Paul’s II encyclic Fides et ratio, puts forward an argument that philosophy is indispensable for a responsible exercise of the Catholic theology. Such philosophy should contain six following characteristics: 1) The basic task of philosophy is the search for truth; other goals, such as subjective certainty, or practical usefulness can be – at most – of secondary importance. 2) Philosophy should not avoid questions of the ultimate purpose of man and the world. Reality and truth are not constrained by the boundaries of what is factual and empirical; philosophy cannot give more importance to the limits and determinants of human reason than it deserves, lest it abandon its faith in man’s ability to know the truth. 3) “It must not be forgotten that reason too needs to be sustained in all its searching by trusting dialogue and sincere friendship. A climate of suspicion and distrust, which can beset speculative research, ignores the teaching of the ancient philosophers who proposed friendship as one of the most appropriate contexts for sound philosophical enquiry.” (FeR 33). 4) Truth about our human ‘be’ must be complemented by love and goodness. 5) The philosopher too should seek truth in humility. He must not forget that the human mind is the cognitive property of the finished being. 6) The teaching of the ancient philosophers that only moral righteousness of the seeker validates the authenticity of his search for truth is well worth remembering.