The Idea of God ed. by Edward H. Madden, Rollo Handy, Marvin Farber (review)

BOOK REVIEWS 855 Perhaps one might respond that Cortese intends that philosophy is not just language about the Absolute but language derived from and undergirded by the Absolute. Thus it follows that language transcends its normal limitations as a human reality and itself becomes divine, Dio filosofico. What sense one might make of this claim, however, is perhaps a conundrum best left for the perceptive reader. Harvard Divinity School Cambridge, Mass. RoNALD S. LAURA The Idea of God. Philosophical Perspectives. Edited by EDWARD H. MADDEN, RoLLO HANDY, MARVIN FARBER. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C. Thomas, 1968. Pp. 182. $8.50. This is a handsome volume, and the title promises a central matter of general philosophical interest. Apart from the first essay by Fr. Clarke, S. J., however, there is not a great deal in this book to recommend it. It is edited from the offerings of a symposium on the Idea of God held at the State University of New York for two days in October, 1967. Essentially, the book is made up of four lectures, on each of which two comments are made. The announcement on the dustcover runs as follows: "The aim of this symposium is to consider in detail and from a variety of viewpoints, the fundamental problems and potentialities of contemporary religious thought." Between the aim and the achievement there lies a great gulf: the rather free-wheeling style of many of the contributors, personal references that might be charming in their place, and, presumably, "off the cuff" observations on a number of things, do not seem to assist the purpose of a technical and serious publication. The "detail" that is promised is hardly in evidence; the circle of reference is very limited and even quite insular, though, be it noted, amongst the lists of metaphysical celebrities in the Index are to found the names of A. A. Milne, Cassius Clay and God! The variety of viewpoints is there; the most unified group seem to be the atheists brought together by a certain amount of mutual adulation and a fine triumphalism in expression. The " Theists " are rather timid and seem to be the " odd men out " in the symposium. Perhaps the increasing popularity of a " finite God " does tend to undermine one's religious assurance. Admittedly, some of the " fundamental problems " are touched upon, but there is little effort at interrelation. The general tone of the treatment does not say a great deal for " the potentialities of contemporary religious thought," though it does say a lot for its " fundamental problems." The single bright spot is the opening lecture by Fr. W. Norris Clarke, 356 BOOK REVIEWS S. J. He presents us with a clear, highly polished and scholarly little essay which shows deference to the large and delicate question " How the Philosopher can give Meaning to Language about God." (pp. 1-~8) He shows alertness to the exigencies of trends in current linguistic analysis and clears the ground rather deftly by pointing to the special character of the problem: there can be no meaning-analysis of the term "God," unless one is prepared to go through the process of discovery which relates to the finding of the significance of the term. He faces all the big issues well, the role of the principle of intelligibility, the meaning of "casuality," the total personal nature of our knowledge of God with its inherent limitations. Perhaps the best point is when he shows that the animating element in our affirmation of God is a fundamental option to respect the exigence of intelligibility. Lonergan, of course, has made this point before, but Fr. Clarke makes it again for his purposes and makes it well. (pp. 7-11) A lot more could be said about this lecture, but we cannot delay. The worst thing that can be said is that it more or less ruins the rest of the book. Would that the subsequent lectures had faced even some of the points that were raised so early. Perhaps it was all discussed, and the best part of the symposium was not printed. (There are the two brief comments, and they elicit an unfortunately brief comment in reply from Fr. Clarke). The other...