Transcendental Method And Espistemology

Transcendental Method and Espistemology A Tract Book Essay By Anthony J. Fejfar, B.A., J.D., Esq., Coif © Copyright 2007 by Anthony J. Fejfar In his book, Method in Theology, Jesuit Philosopher, Bernard Lonergan, discusses the Transcendental Precepts, which can be described as: Be Attentive Be Intelligent Be Reasonable Be Responsible Be Loving Interestingly, the first three Transcendental Precepts parallel Lonergan’s Cognitional Structure as well as the levels of Consciousness described by Plato: Be Attentive

Level of Experience

Body Mind, Base Emotions

Be Intelligent

Level of Understanding

Soul Mind, Analytic Mind

Be Reasonable

Level of Reflection and Judgment

Spirit, Wisdom

Thus, it is apparent that the Transcendental Precepts are epistemological. The epistemology of Lonergan’s Critical Realism, and Fejfar’s Critical Thomism, is one which is self-correcting, fallible, yielding provisional results which are subject to revision upon the acquisition of new data, a new understanding, a more wise reflection. In other words, the Transcendental Precepts produce probable knowledge, subject to revision.

The Transcendental Precepts do not produce some sort of moral or epistemological absolutism.