Critical Thomist Deconstruction And Reconstruction

Critical Thomist Deconstruction and Reconstruction A Tract Book Essay By Anthony J. Fejfar, B.A., J.D., Esq., Coif Critical Thomist philosophy can be used to deconstruct ideas or social institutions or even technology.

For the Critical Thomist deconstruction begins with the

idea that a big part of our world is the world of real meaning. Meaning shapes and even constitutes reality as some level. Thus, it makes sense that the Critical Thomist would be able critique or deconstruct meaning in order to determine whether that meaning represent the Truly Worthwhile, or The Good. Recall, that The Good, is the Individual Good which shapes the Liberal Order. The Value and Goals underlying the Individual Good begin as follows: 1. Individual Autonomy 2. Individual Rational Self Interest 3. Individual Self Transcendece 4. Gift Giving These Goals could of course be supplemented with the Goals of : 5

Life

6

Liberty

7

Pursuit of Happiness

With the foregoing Goals and Values as a starting point, other Goals and Values can be added which are consistent with the foregoing and which help to structure the deconstructive critique. Once the deconstructive critique has been engaged in, then one

must return to the Goals and Values, above, in order to objectively or authentically subjectively ground the reconstructive process. In order for the Good to be achieved, typically, reconstruction always follows deconstruction. This is accomplished through the use of the Transcendental Precepts: Be Attentive, Be Intelligent, Be Reasonable, Be Responsible, Be Loving. The Transcendental Precepts, then, could also be added as additional Goals or Values. 1. Individual Autonomy 4. Individual Rational Self Interest 5. Individual Self Transcendence a.

Be Attentive

b.

Be Intelligent

c.

Be Reasonable

d.

Be Responsible

e.

Be Loving

f.

Be Compassionate

4. Gift Giving 5

Life

8

Liberty

9

Pursuit of Happiness

The foregoing, then, shows that Critical Thomism can be used as a postmodern deconstructionist philosophy, without the negative side effects that one finds with Derrida.