Definitions
NCoTT - New Critique of Theoretical Thought. This is Dooyeweerd's Magnum Opus.
A Conversation Between CSL and Herman Dooyeweerd:
CSL - Good evening Herman. Welcome to Magdalene College. Feel yourself
comfortable. By the way, I just completed reading the first volume of
your splendid and prolific NCoTT and I very much liked your concept of
“meaning as the mode of being of all that is created.” It reminded
me of a discussion I had with Prof. Tillyard in which I said to him:
"Either there is significance in the whole process of things as well as
in human activity, or there is no significance in human activity
itself.... If the world is meaningless, then so are we; if we mean
something, we do not mean alone."
HD – Oh, yes Jack, that is great and reminds of a point you made in The
Abolition of Man – that “If nothing is self-evident, nothing can be
proved – that there are some premises that can't be reached as
conclusions.” - - - I made that very clear in all my writings. But we
need to go further and affirm that “the direction of philosophical
thought to the totality of meaning implies critical self-evaluation.”
CSL – Indeed, Herman - - - -Would you like some tea or a stronger drink?
HD – I would love some whiskey, if I could.
CSL – Oh, yes - that will gives us the tonic we need for continuing our
conversation. [going to get the whiskey] - - By the way, when I gave the
Gifford Lectures in Scotland I got a certificate for an honorary doctor
– I wish they had presented me with a box of whiskey.
To be continued
