Comments for The “Unexamined” Life at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 10 out of 10 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Sat, 25 May 2013 15:34:20 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-unexamined-life.html#comment-2468 I do a fair amount of lay apologetics and I often run into contrary opinions which bemoan the superstitious faithful who "lack proper education." While there is always some truth to statements such as these (it is impossible to digest the collected learning of the world) I am reminded of Chesterton's quip, which also leapt to mind while reading Mr. Royals piece. Chesterton said: "When I speak of experts on the poor, I do not mean the sociologists, but poor men." - E.C. Everett Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:41:11 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-unexamined-life.html#comment-2449 Most times in my life and not without cost, I have resisted the herd mentality I see most people exhibit. Robert Royal's counsel rings true for me. I never completed my bachelors, to my regret, but I still support my wife and kids and work in a highly technical field. When my kids go off to college, as they likely will in a few short years, I plan to do just what his last sentence recommennds. - John Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:47:12 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-unexamined-life.html#comment-2443 Jeannine, Must we cross our pens over this? I was trying to relate the poem's ending to the article as a whole. PS - I am a female "Terry" if that makes any difference to your response. - Terry Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:03:30 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-unexamined-life.html#comment-2435 "Infidelity (emotional or physical) has nothing to do with intelligence." Not directly, no. But infidelity has a great deal to to with this attitude: "Because I am intelligent, I know better than a bunch of fuddy-duddy old priests and stupid religious grandmothers." This kind of pride disdains both spiritual tradition and cultural wisdom. Also, an "Intellectual" is not the same thing as an intelligent person. - Jeannine Wed, 29 Jul 2009 13:31:37 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-unexamined-life.html#comment-2429 pretend for a moment i'm a loving aunt. Praise God you are off to an amazing place where you might learn w/your intellect more about the One Who gifted you w/that mind! Wonderful! "aunt debby" has a humble suggestion. pray every morning to your Mommy,Seat of Wisdom,Mommy of the WORD made Man, ask Her to carry you as She carried Him, to open your heart to the Truth, even as She was open to Him, to Ponder w/in your soul's mind He Who Is. you'll become holy & smart-just like St. Maximilian! - debby Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:09:07 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-unexamined-life.html#comment-2418 Perhaps the last line in Auden's poem would have been more fitting for this article (A man who's untrue to his wife) if it read: A man who is untrue to worldly strife! Infidelity (emotional or physical) has nothing to do with intelligence. - Terry Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:10:35 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-unexamined-life.html#comment-2417 Very nice post. I'm heading off to Thomas Aquinas College in the fall but I will keep in mind all the while that knowledge is not that same as holiness. - Maximilian Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:36:38 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-unexamined-life.html#comment-2416 I am not an expert on Socrates, but I'm not sure that an unexamined life is one that means didn't read the great books. Especially considering that most of what we consider "great books" didn't exist at the time of Socrates. It may be that some at the college were making that connection, but that simply means they were incorrect, or uncritical, or unexamined. - Deacon Sean Smith Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:32:24 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-unexamined-life.html#comment-2415 Thanks for this column. Like you, I had two ethnic grandmothers. One barely spoke English, the other had a fourth grade education. They took me to weekday Mass, Stations of the Cross and prayed the rosary with me. They also showed me (through actions, not words) the meaning of sacrifice, love and compassion. It is precisely this type of foundation - based on the family - that we must provide our children. If we wait until school age, it is too late. - David Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:31:05 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2009/the-unexamined-life.html#comment-2414 And so, well said Robert Royal. Modern education seems so directed to immediate results in the job market that during one's education process there is barely time to engage those things truly human Today's university is the antithesis of Newman's concept.The freedom to dialogue in the ways of Socrates and Glaucon are prohibited by time.To combine the book knowledge of the university with the wisdom of the unlettered must be possible, but not without humiility. Did not God gave us our intellect? - Willie Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:29:44 +0100