It’s All Good! The Democratization of Intellect Russell McNeil Malaspina Great Books

Atmosphere of Venus

Hurricane Katrina

Karl Popper

One Ought to Do Good and avoid evil

We ought to seek the good and avoid the bad We ought to seek the good and avoid the bad

The Good Life The Good Life 1. Do the Right Thing – moral action 1. Do the Right Thing – moral action 2. Seek the Truth – intellectual action 2. Seek the Truth – intellectual action or or We ought to seek truth because we ought to do good, and truth is the template or standard we reference in moral action. We ought to seek truth because we ought to do good, and truth is the template or standard we reference in moral action.

Titian, Adam and Eve, c. 1550

Entrance to Hell Drawing by Botticelli c. 1500

St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia

Heraclitus of Ephesos c. 535 BCE – Originator of concept of Logos

Thomas Aquinas (c )

Spear Bearer Polyclitus c. 420 BCE Greek Virtues Intellectual or Contemplative Virtues (goal – seeking the good) – associated with thinking well Philosophic Practical Artistic Scientific Intuitive Moral Virtues (goal – doing good) – associated with choosing actions well Prudence Justice Fortitude Temperance

I think, I am – Descartes I think not, I am not – Implied by Stoicism

Christ as Logos

Christ’s Commandments Strive for Truth and do Good? Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind (editor: seek the Truth).' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself (editor: do good).' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." Matt. 22:34-40

Primacy of Conscience Democratization of the Intellect 1. Conscience is a universal activity 2. Conscience is informed by Truth 3. Truth is informed by conscience

What I Observed The idea of abstract universal law The idea of abstract universal law A wonder and desire to know why A wonder and desire to know why There must be government in the cosmos There must be government in the cosmos

John Henry Cardinal Newman ( ) The Idea of the University

Max Born ( )

Lise Meitner ( )

Galileo Galilei ( )

Cicero (104 BCE – 43 BCE)

Cicero to his son Marcus – a student at the Academy The principle function of human reason, is the search for Truth. This search is part of the Universal Nature of Man. Truth is the good. And the search for truth - which lies at the root of all wisdom -- defines our duty. Action in conformity with the virtues of wisdom, justice, courage and moderation - or decorum as I call it - is action in conformity with this duty … Actions in conflict with these virtues are abhorrent (Editor: anti-intellectual activities). Pain and pleasure are irrelevant considerations in all actions done in accordance with this duty. Moral goodness consists in being in harmony with the Universal principles of nature - in doing the right thing - and doing the right thing in accordance with the principles of human society. This means that our duty to the gods, to our country, to our parents and to the rest of society - in that order - are prior to any duty to self. Self-interest can never be used as a yardstick for action …

Zero tolerance for anti-intellectual attitudes Zero tolerance for anti-intellectual attitudes

Marshall McLuhan ( )

Ludwig van Beethoven ( )

Myron 485 BCE

Polyclitus 450 BCE Polyclitus 450 BCE

Praxiteles 364 BCE

Venus 323 BCE

Aphrodite 200 BCE

Laocoon c. 1 BCE

Flemalle 1376

Weyden 1399

Angelico 1400

Christus 1416 Christus 1416

Bellini 1430

Memling 1430

Mantegna 1431

Ghirlandaio 1450

da Vinci 1452

Gerard David 1460

Michelangelo 1475

Raphael 1483

Titian 1487

Correggio 1489

Holbein the younger 1497

Vasari 1511 Vasari 1511

Caron 1521

Fontana 1552

Carracci 1573

Hals 1588

Gentilesche 1597

Bernini 1598

van Dyck 1599

Leyster 1609

Vermeer 1632

Giordano 1632

Beale 1632

Coypel 1661

Desportes 1661

Jacques Louis David 1748

Intellectual Tools Dante – how to lead an examined life Dante – how to lead an examined life Plato – nature of beauty, justice, and love Plato – nature of beauty, justice, and love Aristotle – how to think, search, persuade Aristotle – how to think, search, persuade Christ – how to suffer and how to love Christ – how to suffer and how to love Dostoevsky – danger of nihilism Dostoevsky – danger of nihilism Kafka – danger of alienation Kafka – danger of alienation Lucian and Swift – detection of pretentiousness Lucian and Swift – detection of pretentiousness Socrates – how to question and how to die Socrates – how to question and how to die

The Sacrifice of Isaac, Caravaggio, , Uffizi Gallery

Rubens 1577