We discuss chapters 3 and 4 of Chesterton's classic Orthodoxy: The Suicide of Thought and The Ethics of Elfland.
In these chapters, Chesterton speaks first of the crisis of thought which is prevalent also in our day - not so much to reject what has come before, but to pretend like the genius of previous ages never existed. If a man does not love the Medieval Theologians, he should at least hate them - but modern man commits the suicide of thought by pretending there were no theologians in the middle ages, and that no one until our modern day has anything to contribute to philosophy, theology, or reason.
In The Ethics of Elfland, Chesterton puts forward his own apologetic for morality. This is a most compelling chapter -- Why should we be good? Because the world is beautiful, and being good is a way of expressing our gratitude to the Creator.
Listen online part 1 [here]!
Listen online part 2 [here]!
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Adult Faith Formation Series – Spring 2021 – Orthodoxy
by GK Chesterton
January 26th – Chapters 3&4 – The
Suicide of Thought & The Ethics of Elfland
The Christian ideal has not been tried and found
wanting.
It has been found difficult; and left untried. - GK
Chesterton
I. Chapter 3: The Suicide of
Thought
A. The false humility of doubting
absolute truth, and doubting the ability to know truth
B. Modern skepticism is a
skepticism against all thought – which is the death of thought
C. Chesterton notes that religion
and religious authority (indeed, he mentions many of the traditional forms of
authority) were established not so suppress reason or free thought, but to
defend it
D. Chesterton is a strong critic
of evolution. This refers not so much to the actual science of evolution of
living organisms (although he was suspicious of that too, especially because of
the eugenics claims of his day), but more especially to the claim of the
evolution of thought and of truth. Loving progress for the mere sake of
progress without any reference to absolute truths.
E. There must be objective truths
and moral standards which are valid through all ages and for all peoples.
II. Chapter 4: The Ethics of
Elfland
A. What does Chesterton mean when
he states that he is a “liberal”? It has a different meaning in his time,
referring to the idea of democracy and voting.
B. GK Chesterton has a charming
comparison of democracy and tradition.
C. Fairytales help us to regain
that original wonder and even surprise at the world. That we might delight in
the world.
D. When Chesterton criticizes
scientific laws, he is speaking on a philosophical level. Granted, there are
certain “laws of nature” and scientific principles that order the world, but
that still doesn’t get to the deeper philosophical question of why things are
the way they are and even why anything exists at all.
E. Chesterton’s “Doctrine of
Conditional Joy” – a foundation for morality based on joy and wonder.
F. A God who is eternal young,
and perfectly creative.
G. The realization that all that
exists is most precious, it might not have been and was saved as from a great
ship wreck.
H. Overview of the five points
made at the end of this chapter.
III. Looking ahead to next week
A. The Flag of the World: A good corrective to nationalism as well as
to disloyalty. Note Chesterton’s discussion of suicide, which perhaps strikes
us a somewhat harsh.
B. The Paradoxes of Christianity:
Chesterton is famous for his presentation of paradoxes. His aim is to show that
Christianity is wholly unique and really nothing like any other religion or
philosophy.
