Book Review

A HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY IN AUSTRALIA

Corrupting the Youth. James Franklin, New South Wales, 2003, 465pp.

Reviewed by John Young.

 

This book gives a vivid picture of philosophers in Australia: their lives, their contrasting views and their influence on the students. James Franklin has done a great deal of research, as shown in the numerous references throughout the volume.

The first part has a detailed account of the thought of the famous (or infamous) Professor John Anderson of Sydney, and contrasts this with alternative views, especially with the Thomistic philosophy taught by Dr Austin Woodbury SM at the Aquinas Academy in Sydney. Professor Anderson was a materialist: the mind is matter, like everything; there is no ultimate self to which motives belong. There are only material things in space and time. Ethics is a study of human activities, but no absolute rights exist. Clearly this philosophy rules out anything supernatural and also any universally valid system of ethics and any transcendental realities.

Anderson was Professor of Philosophy at Sydney University from 1927 till 1958, and in that time influenced numerous students who later went on to occupy prominent positions in teaching, law, politics, journalism and other fields. His views changed the outlook of numerous students, and led to many abandoning Christianity.

In contrast to Anderson was Dr Austin Woodbury, who founded the Aquinas Academy in 1945, and conducted it until his retirement due to ill health in 1974. It was for long a remarkably successful operation. In 1961 “…it was running nineteen classes a week, with a total enrolment of some 500”. They were mostly lay people of all ages and occupations. Most classes were in the evening. Franklin quotes Woodbury on the philosophy of Anderson and his associates: “The department of philosophy at Sydney University is a cancer at what ought to be the heart of the scholastic life of this city. It is a disgrace to the University of Sydney, and would be a disgrace to any university anywhere…”

(p. 81).

Despite Franklin’s awareness of the erroneous character of Anderson’s philosophy he fails to fully appreciate Woodbury. Like others, Franklin is influenced by the myth of an alleged inward looking philosophy promoted by Father Garrigou-Lagrange, and he sees this as influencing Dr Woodbury and Dr P. J. Ryan.

I studied at the Aquinas Academy for many years and I am familiar with the main schools of philosophy through the ages. Critiques of these were given at the Academy – and in the writings of Garrigou-Lagrange. Philosophy at the Academy was certainly not inward looking.

The later chapters deal with a variety of philosophical ideas among Australia’s academics, explaining these in clear language and giving detailed references. A good insight is given into the intellectual life in Australia to the end of the twentieth century. The reader sees the roots of current ideas in related subjects, including law and

art.

One can see more clearly why Professor Peter Singer is influential and respected, and why he could say that “…the grounds for not killing persons do not apply to newborn infants” (p. 82).

John Young leads the Philosophy and Discussion Group on

Wednesdays at the Library.

Message from the Library President

9th September, is the Feast of Blessed Antoine-Frederick Ozanam, the founder of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. Frederick Ozanam was married, a father, and died at the age of 40. In 1997 he was beatified by Saint John Paul II.

What does he have to do with the Caroline Chisholm Library?

Our library exists to nourish Catholic faith and culture, and that means that in the first place, the Library is an oasis of learning and wisdom, study and peace, and, of contemplation in the bustle of the city. We are not, however, a monastery, withdrawn from the activities of the world and serving only by prayer.We exist to equip our members and those we serve to give those whom we know and those whom we can contact the fruits of our contemplation and study.

Our Lord was definite about the two greatest commandments – to love God with our whole being, and to love our neighbour as we love ourselves. Love means action. This was the challenge that Frederick Ozanam met when he was challenged by critics, who accused him and his fellow students, of talk without action. He led others in the practical relief of the poor, the work his committed followers still carry out.

Like Caroline Chisholm, and very many of our members and supporters, he was a lay member of the church, married, a parent, and with a particular vocation as an organizer of relief for people in need. Especially when others had seen the need but not recognized it, or had not known what to do about it.

May the library (in which we labour, study and delight) nourish our hearts and minds as we find the works of love we are called to do, each with our own gifts.

Blessed Frederick Ozanam, pray for us that we may love and serve our brothers and sisters wisely and fruitfully.

Anthony Krohn is President of the Caroline Chisholm Library. 

Upcoming talk - Liturgies of the Paschal Mysteries

Life is often a rush- busy at home, busy at work... with little time to catch our breath.

It is hard to move peacefully into the celebration of the Death and Resurrection of Christ- even though this is central to our Faith.

For a little time and space for peace, and to help us understand what the Church does in the Liturgy of Eastertide come and join Fr Lawrence Cross and others on a journey into the meaning and form of the Liturgy of season.

Fr Lawrence Cross is a noted scholar and author in theology and spirituality and is Archpriest and pastor of St Nicholas’ Russian Church in St Kilda.

The Caroline Chisholm Library is hosting a seminar at the Library to which all are welcome.

Saturday 11th of April, 2015   11 am -1pm

Location: Caroline Chisholm Library, Level 3, 358 Lonsdale St, Melbourne

All are welcome!

(Saturday is Great Saturday (Holy Saturday) in the Byzantine Calendar and Saturday of the Octave of Easter in the Latin Rite)

Upcoming Talk: The Life and Work of Frank Sheed

Tragically, many today do not know who Frank Sheed was.

Frank Sheed was a vigorous combination of elements. An Australian-born layman who jetted between London and New York, one who trained in law but became a jovial and engaging public theologian.

With his wife Maisie Ward, Frank established the remarkably successful house of Sheed and Ward. Sheed was above all a remarkable communicator. His articles and books brought theological mysteries such as the Blessed Trinity "out of the muddle" in which many homilies languish and into the light. His book Theology and Sanity is rarely out of print.

Our speaker, John Young, who writes and teaches philosophy, knew Frank Sheed and his work with the Catholic Evidence Guild.

Time: 1-2pm, Wednesday 11 March 2015

Location: Caroline Chisholm Library, Level 3, 358 Lonsdale St, Melbourne

All are welcome!

Communion and Liberation Now Meets at the Library

The Melbourne Chapter of Communion and Liberation now meet at the Caroline Chisholm Library every Wednesday at 8.30 pm. 

Join us to discuss the work of Fr Guissani and how Christ is acting in our lives. 

The Communion and Liberation movement was founded in 1954 by Fr Luigi Guissani in a Milanese high school. Fr Guissani described it as a “movement of presence” through which Catholics would become both more mature in their faith and could become a Christian influence by their en- counter with others at different levels of society. The movement has a particular interest in developing a response to artistic, musical and communal culture.

See also the information at: http:// english.clonline.org 

In memoriam: Dr Les Hemingway

Dr Les Hemingway, who was a General Practitioner in Warnambool for many years, died recently. 

Three of his books are in the CCL: The Modern World and Self-control, Rent as Revenue, and Sharing the Earth. 

Les left school at fourteen to become a fitter and turner. He under- took further studies and graduated from Melbourne University as a doctor in 1955. He be-came a Catholic soon after leaving university, and was guided by his Faith in his medical prac-tice.

During his time in Warrnambool he caused a stir by refusing to prescribe the contraceptive pill. He and his wife Verna had eleven children. (I remember him joking at a conference on economics that people would infer from his large family that he must be a Catholic!). 

Les had a wide range of interests, including swimming, engineering and woodturning. But espe-cially economics. He followed the land philoso- phy of the nineteenth century economist Henry George, applying it to Australia to- day, and arguing cogently that the application of George’s principles would solve the dilemma of the land prices that prevent so many people from owning their home. He stood as an independent for the House of Representatives seat of Wannon at the 1993 general election.

Les was very generous with his time and advice, as I experienced about twenty years ago when I sent him a draft of my book The Natural Economy. He sent me a long and very helpful analysis after only a few weeks – and apologized for having taken so long!

He worked as a GP for nearly fifty years, mostly at Warrnambool, until ill-health forced his retirement. Some three years ago, with his health beginning to fail, he wrote to a friend that he had had to cut down his daily swimming to 600 metres! 

JohnYoung 

Come and See Your Library Refreshed!

The library is a community of communities, and there is a spring flourishing of things new and old. The library is looking brighter, cleaner, younger and colourful. 

Newest is the Caroline Chisholm Playgroup, where parents and young children from the city meet and play in the library, an early introduction to the world of culture and learning. 

This is an initiative of Pauline Kennedy, who with her husband David and others has trans- formed our meeting room on Monday mornings into a magical land with colour, cushions, books and toys, and a place for friendship and support of families who may otherwise be iso- lated in inner city living. The Committee intends to build up a collection of good books for children.

Also new is the lighter and cleaner area for the kitchen and lunch, the work largely of David Kennedy.

Anna Krohn and many new and old volunteers continue to keep the library open during the week, on the desk, cataloguing, doing the books and correspondence. They have embarked on a major project of ring- ing our lapsed subscribers, to renew contact, to ask for overdue books to be renewed or returned, and to alert people to due subscriptions.

The 350 Foundation is to be named and launched as the Friends of the Library. You are our Friends indeed! There will be an event to celebrate and launch the Friends in early 2015.

The Icon School of S. Luke (Thursdays, 10 am), The Discussion Group (Wednesdays, 1 pm) and the Catholic Book Club (Last Friday, 7 pm) con- tinue to meet and to flourish. Communione e Liberazione and other groups are also meeting at the library. (Further details in this Newsletter or on our blog page) We welcome your interest and need your presence and support, in the different ways you are able. Please come to our An- nual General Meeting on 13 December 2014 at 10.30 a.m.

Anthony Krohn 

Update from the Library Icon School

Our last School excursion for the year was to “Eikon,” an exhibition of icons at the Art Gallery of Ballarat.

The Director of the Gallery, Mr Gordon Morrison, has set up an exhibition, and accompanying catalogue, calendar and cards of an exceptional standard, and those members of the School who were able to attend found it to be both edifying and informative.

The Annunciation icon designed for the top of the iconostasis at the Library has been completed and mounted. It is a fuller representation of the Annunciation inas- much as, in addition to Archangel Gabriel and the Blessed Virgin Mary, Kings David and Solomon appear holding scrolls foretelling the event.

One is from Psalm 44 and reads, in part, “Hearken, O Daughter, and see, and in- cline thine ear, for the King hath greatly desired thy beauty,” while the other from Proverbs reads, “Many daughters have amassed wealth; thou hast sur- passed them all.”

John Daly