The name or Title of this blog is adapted from the story of the Apostle Thomas, particularly his response to one of Jesus’ post resurrection appearances (i.e., he doubted, whereupon Jesus asked him to thrust his finger into the wounds on his hands or feet – Jn 20:24 – 26). Ever since this episode, St. Thomas has been known as “Doubting Thomas.”
More important, however — is the 17th Century French philosopher Rene DesCartes’ notions published in his 1637 work, Discourse On Method, concerning the correct approach to philosophical studies. He began his inquiry by doubting every proposition he was taught except what was absolutely irreducible. He was left with this solitary proposition, “I Think, therefore I am.” This became to him what philosophers would afterwards call a “First Principle”, i.e., an axiom from which theorems may logically be formed. Were we to view propositions as an ordered hierarchy (or a kind of upside-down tree), there would be only one proposition at the top and this would be the “first principle.”
The “doubt” in the title is meant to express ny natural skepticism of virtually all propositions (similar or analogous to Cartesian doubt). I have been informed by persons I have reason to believe, that I am an analytic personality (as contrasted with synthetic, idealistic, and pragmatic types). Two important characteristics of this kind of personality are skepticism (doubt) and conservativism (opposition to change, especially change for its own sake).
I am conservative in all things:
1. in Politics – I am to the right of Atilla the Hun
2. in Religion – I am a Reformed Evangelical Protestant
3. in Manners – I still open doors for ladies, I stand to my feet when a lady approaches my personal space, I speak politely in the company of strangers, I don’t fart in enclosed spaces (like elvators), etc.
4. in Morals (ethics) – I honor my oaths (contracts), I do not cheat on my income taxes, I give my employer an honest day’s work, I am loyal to my friends, etc. ad nauseum.
5. in the Practical Affairs of life – I eschew innovation for its own sake; i.e., I will adopt new-fangled devices or methods only if they are clearly superior to the old and do not harm others.
I have wide-ranging interests and will write concerning any of them, though my favorites are Politics, Philosophy, Natural Science, and Religion. It is not my wish to engage in monolog; I much prefer dialog. For that reason I encourage (nay, invite) comments and will reply to as many as time permits. In commenting, however, please be polite and, if you wish to persuade me that you are correct and I am wrong, please be reasonable.
Doubting Thomas' Blog 