The Consequences of Ideas introduced various intellectual perspectives
and thoughts of emotions that demonstrate personal conflict through
individual experiences and questions that bear the burden of life and
personal regard. In (Sproul, 2000, pg. 109) described three stages,
aesthetic, ethical, and religious. The stages outline the developmental
progression of life, similar to the developmental stages studied by
psychologists. Soren Kierkegaard explains these stages as optional
lifestyles people can choose. I look at them as developmental stages as
each reflects an order of progression, starting with behavior connected to
emotional priority, which is aesthetic.
The next is ethical when we begin to understand the consequences of our
actions and decide to change. Lastly, religion, as it aligns with old age,
when we reflect on our existence and what follows, leading people to
become more religious. I enjoyed reading about Truth being faith, and
how “Real” is the from and “Idea” is the to, meaning the actual existence
of the “thing” is active as the idea comes from that experience and
understanding of the thing.
This book displayed the consequences of ideas through the intellectual
brilliance of each thinker, the philosopher. The ideas and the forethought
of these men were evolutionary and highly insightful of man, life, and the
world. The consequences reflect the burden carried by each of them,
which leads to profound thoughts of ideas to be realized.
As a Social Psychologist, my responsibility is to identify experiences that
lead to behavioral changes in life and the causes which led to the
behavior, and what it takes to counteract those experiences with
something that assists with treatment in relieving mental disruption. It
also surprised me as I read the book; it also exhibited a chauvinistic view
of the world during the times of research with the lack of evolution of
philosophers being women, not being intellectual contributors.
References:
Sproul. (2000). The consequences of ideas: understanding the concepts
that shaped our world. Crossway Books.
