It is hard to imagine anything beginning without it first being an idea.
Sporul sets the stage for the reader by starting with this notion. Many
great philosophers such as Aristotle, Descartes, Plato, Kant, etc. were
some of the earliest thinkers. Many incorporated philosophy and theology
in their ideas. This opened doors for later thinkers who removed theology
completely and influenced societies across the globe. This move towards
an agnostic-thinking world is dangerous as ideas are often followed by
actions. Wars, bloodshed, and crimes have been committed because
people found justifiable ideas for these wrongdoings. God taught us to
love each other, but modern philosophy scholars have unintentionally
utilized ideas to open doors for wrongdoers.)
)
When ideas are justified time and again, it is easy for them to become a
norm. For example, infidelity in marriage is often accepted in today’s
society as people justify it through sexual dissatisfaction in marriage. If
marriage occurs through the love of God, which it rightfully should, this is
not a ground for divorce. This is a simple example that we witness in our
societies, neighborhood, and even churches everyday. Of course, Sproul
discussed much more complicated ideas, but in a simplistic manner. What
I’ve gathered from reading his work is that philosophy in the modern age
needs to be rescued.)
)
Swedish journalist and activist Kajsa Ekis Ekamn said in her interview with
The Atlantic “I think not all dangerous ideas are good or should be let
loose in that sense. … But then again I would say that there are also ideas
that are dangerous in the good way, because they stimulate you to
question everything that you’ve taken for granted”. I do agree with her to
an extent. Sometimes dangerous ideas challenge social and economic
orders in existence. They are not always used to cause harm.)
)
References
)
Gilsinan, K. (2018, September 2).)Can an idea be dangerous?)The Atlantic.
Retrieved April 28, 2022, from
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/08/can-an-idea-
be-dangerous/379419/
Sproul, R. C. (2018).)The consequences of ideas: Understanding the
concepts that shaped our world. Crossway Books.)
