Studying the Phenomena of Error

 

Annotated Bibliography
By:  Fr. Christopher M. Pietraszko

Brague, Remi.  “The Kingdom of Man:  Genesis and Failure of the Modern Project.”  Notre Dame,
           Indiana:  University of Notre Dame Press, 2018.  This book offers some brief reflections on  
           Descartes epistemological views, such as his quest for certainty and subordination of knowledge
           to mere practical use (70-72) which leads us away from the intellectual appetite epistemologically
           ordered toward the good.   

Reith, Herman.  “An Introduction to Philosophical Psychology.”  Englewood Cliffs, N.J.:  Prentice-Hall,
           Inc., 1956.  This book offers a very concise and clear exposition on St. Thomas Aquinas
           threefold operation in the intellect (173-175), and the cause of error (175-177) in connection with
           Descartes notion of error being an entirely voluntary dimension.  Reith further explains the
           universality of the object of the will to highlight a departure from Descartes (179-180), and a clear
           accounting of the relationship between free-choice as a cause of error (194-196).

Oesterle, John.  “Logic:  the Art of Defining and Reasoning.”  Upper Saddle River, N.J.:  Prentice-Hall Inc.:
           1963. This book speaks about self-evident propositions in a technical manner that helps give one a
           foundation to all demonstration (239-241).  He further discusses self-evidence that is universal to
           all, and times when self-evidenced propositions do not exist in the mind of other.  This validates
           the reality of error while also dismissing hyperbolic doubt.

Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Aristotle’s “De Anima.” Trans. Kenelm Foster. New Haven:  Aeterna
           Press, 2015.  St. Thomas Aquinas explains (288-90; pp 724-727) the relationship between potency
           and actuality when it comes to intelligible objects.  This leads to a further explanation of man’s
           own self-awareness through the experience of the intellect’s activity in knowing such intelligible. 
           Further, Aquinas explains (310; pp 781-782) an example of where error can arise via conjoined
           and separated things as understood or confused.

Houser, R.E. “Logic as a Liberal Art:  An Introduction to Rhetoric & Reasoning.”  Washington D.C.:  The
           Catholic University of America Press, 2020.  Houser discusses that errors can arise when making
           sweeping generalizations, which may cause us to have a tenuous confidence with conclusions or
           universal statements (360-366).  He also elaborates on abstract induction which establishes
           fundamental propositions about reality (366-368).