Insight: A Study of Human Understanding by Bernard J. F. Lonergan, S. J. (review)

554 BOOK REVIEWS Insight: A Study of Human Understanding. By BERNARD J. F. LoNERGAN, S. J. New York: Philosophical Library, 1957. Pp. 815. $10.00. Leo XIII found scholastic philosophy in a sorry state. He called for a reconstruction in which the best of old scholasticism would be restored and completed by new thought. His motto for reconstruction implies that he recognized philosophy as a dynamic process; Leo did not confuse the love of wisdom with its attainment. The Leonine reconstruction has not proceeded rapidly and smoothly. Still, scholastic philosophy has neither stood still nor regressed. Historical studies have helped us to understand Aquinas and other scholastic doctors. For the interpretation of the medievals, we now demand textual studies made according to precise methods; we have thrown off the burden of the commentaries and the ad mentem summaries. Moreover, some excellent analytic studies concerned with particular points of doctrine have been made. Many of these. studies, it is true, have been ambivalent with respect to philosophic verification, sometimes using authority and slipping unconsciously into a traditionalism on philosophic issues. Still the monographic studies have made us aware of philosophic problems and we have developed some sophistication in thinking about them. There are some who see no need for any work besides the historical and analytical studies to carry on the Leonine reconstruction. Yet to others it seems we must still advance in two ways. First, we mu&t face the philosophic issues as they are now· presented. We must talk about what our non-scholastic colleagues are talking about and we must make ourselves intelligible to them. Second, we must present philosophic syntheses which can stand independently of any allusions to medieval texts or citations of authorities. This preface leads to my general evaluation of Insight. This book is genuinely and competently philosophic. It stands independently of any historical positions. It depends only on the readers' own experience and intelligence to validate its conclusions. Its appeal is not to a parochial audience. It is not written in scholastic jargon. It raises issues which are now interesting to non-scholastic philosophers and deals with these issues in a way which should be illuminating to them. I realize this judgment of the importance of the book is strong. But Lonergan's book is unusual. Insight deserves to be read and studied, discussed and criticized. This book:, I believe, is the first perfected philosophic product of the Leonine reconstruction. Insight might initiate a new era in scholastic philosophy. Using the act of the intellect as a point of departure, Fr. Lonergan has built a complete philosophic synthesis. We can indicate the content and BOOK REVIEWS 555 the order of the work by using the old titles for the systematic courses, although these labels are not appropriate to this book. Beginning with epistemology, Fr. Lonergan develops the main positions of a scholastic cosmology, ontology, rational psychology, ethics, and natural theology. In epistemology, Lonergan treats the types and sources of knowledge and error, certitude and degrees of certitude, and the grounding of first principles . He refutes scepticism, relativism, empiricism, and idealism. In cosmology, he treats change and its types and conditions, time and place, matter and form, causality in nature, contingency, and evolution. In ontology, he treats metaphysical composition, substance and accident, essence and existence, the transcendentals, the causes, analogy, distinctions, relations, and individuation. In rational psychology, he treats the cognitive and appetitive processes with special emphasis on the distinction between sense and intellect, the substantial unity of man, the spirituality and immortality of the soul, and freedom of choice. In ethics, he treats the main principles with respect to the end, the moral act, virtue, and law. He also makes interesting points concerning the common gnod and society. In natural theology, he treats the existence and attributes of God, divine knowledge and love, and creation. He also shows the possibility of miracles, revelation, a supernatural order, and the church. The scholastic will detect treatment of all these topics and will be comforted by the regul :ty and ease with which the right answers come. From this point of view, the book constitutes a well-integrated course in scholastic philosophy, including the philosophical portions of apologetics. Yet...