INTP philosophers

[Arioch]

I am wondering if anybody knows of any INTP Christian philosophers? Not INTP's who were philosophers that just happend to be Christians but philosophers who's main field was religion/Christianity and were INTP.

[Claverhouse]

Typing is not yet one of my fortes, but if I were you I would have a chat with Kierkegaard. Somehow it seems a trifle likely.

But for all I know Kant & Hegel may have been INTPs: however K does seem a bit introverted.


In fear & trembling



Claverhouse :ph34r:

[Johnny]

As a psychotically passionate INTP Christian philosopher, you can put my vote down for Kierkegaard too. :sombrero:

[last_caress]

I am wondering if anybody knows of any INTP Christian philosophers? Not INTP's who were philosophers that just happend to be Christians but philosophers who's main field was religion/Christianity and were INTP.

It's my theory that christian philosophers that also test as INTP are a minority due to the secular tendencies inherent in this personality type.

[int]

Wasn't Blaise Pascal?

[booyalab]

I've read a lot about Kierkegaard and he seems to be an NF, his philosophical arch-enemies were the rationalists.

[booyalab]

I'm pretty sure Descartes was and I agree with int about Pascal.

[booyalab]

I also think it's possible (although at first doesn't seem correct) that Berkeley was an INTP. Even though he attacked abstract philosophies, remember INTPs are always skeptical of the practical applications of ideas...so maybe George had that trait and made a philosophy out of it.

[int]

Possibly, as frustrating as he is ... :rant: :)

[javalady]

Hello!

Blaise Pascal was a mathematician who later turned to philosophy of religion and began writing a book giving logical reasons to belive in God. He died before completing the book, but you can find it today under the title of "Pensees", or "Thoughts" in French.
Because Pascal was not finished with his book, it needs to be organized by someone in order to be understood. And of course, it needs to be translated into English for those of us who do not speak French. I am currently reading a wonderfully informative version edited and explained by Peter Kreeft. He titled the book "Christianity for Modern Pagans", and he gives a very thorough explanation of Pascal's thinking. Sometimes, i read a passage from, pascal, and it;s so obvious to me what he meant that I don;t bother to read Kreeft;s explanation. Other times, I find his explanations to be quite helpful.
Because Pascal was a mathematician and an INTP, I think fewllow INTP's will greatly appreciate his logic. His book is so good I can hardly put it down, but so thought provoking that I can't read it too quickly-- i need to digest the ideas.

C.S. Lewis was an INTJ. His books are also excellent, especially "Mere Chrisitanity". I liked "Miracles" and "Abolition of Man" quite a lot also, but "MC" remains my favorite, and the book that converted me to christianity.

Take care!
~Javalady

[Eileen]

Simone Weil was sort of a philosopher/theologian, and she was said to be INTP.

:wub: Simone Weil. :wub: She has some wonderful comments on grace and affliction. I used Weil and Flannery O'Connor in a paper once that I was quite proud of.

[Johnny]

I've read a lot about Kierkegaard and he seems to be an NF, his philosophical arch-enemies were the rationalists.To me Kierkegaard was an astoundingly valuable thinker in western philosophy, to rail against the static equations of rationalism and criticize them as meaningless if they did not also offer motion.

But you may be right about his type being more F than T.

[booyalab]

To me Kierkegaard was an astoundingly valuable thinker in western philosophy, to rail against the static equations of rationalism and criticize them as meaningless if they did not also offer motion.

But you may be right about his type being more F than T.

I also agree that he was a great thinker, and I didn't mean to trivialize or oversimplify his adversity to rationalism by sounding like I was attributing it solely to his temperament. But yeah, while he had a great intellect, he didn't at all detach himself from his ideas like many philosophers. I think he was too passionate to be an NT.

[Edmond Zedo]

I am wondering if anybody knows of any INTP Christian philosophers? Not INTP's who were philosophers that just happend to be Christians but philosophers who's main field was religion/Christianity and were INTP.
Why isn't the title of this thread INTP Christian Philosophers? I wouldn't be reading it if it were. Fool.

[songbird36]

Kierkegaard (although a Christian) offered up a blistering critique of the church and all its trappings and hypocrisy.

That's pretty NT I'd say.

[songbird36]

St Thomas Aquinas was a very rational Christian philsosopher/theologian.

He'd be a good candidate

[booyalab]

It wouldn't be that hard at all to think of Christian philosophers who were probably INTP......two that were mentioned are Descartes and Pascal.

[Sir Isaac Lime]

Debatably, Hegel

http://hakatai.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/smc/ml/hegel-and-christianity.html

[Eileen]

Kierkegaard (although a Christian) offered up a blistering critique of the church and all its trappings and hypocrisy.

That's pretty NT I'd say.

Nah, I believe NFs have it in them to do this.
I don't know about Keirkegaard to type him, but I've known a couple of righteously pissed INFPs before. :)

[synthesis]

the general descriptions of INTP's always stress the importance of rationality and logic and how social progression is founded on logic

to me, thats all Hegel. if we have this guy who thinks reality is rationality and that the ultimate goal of humanity is self-realization via logic... thats intp

[Scribbling Man]

It's my theory that christian philosophers that also test as INTP are a minority due to the secular tendencies inherent in this personality type.
Hard to imagine an INTP being a Christian.

[Sojourner]

Hard to imagine an INTP being a Christian.

I love being imaginary.

[bonsai]

I love being imaginary.

Did somebody say something?










;)

[The Goof]

'Tis a pity that popular Christianity has become fideistic, it's no surprise many INTP's don't understanding how any INTP's could be Christian. If anyone here is interested in seeing a rational approach to the faith I recommend Surrendra Gangadean's Philosophical Foundation and Owen Anderson's B.B. Warfield and Right Reason.

Alvin Plantiga probably fits the definition of an INTP as well, but, while his contributions to analytic philosophy are valuable, his apologetic only establishes the 'epistemic right' Christians have for their beliefs. (Although his revised Ontological argument is titillating, and may be found at the back of his The Nature of Necessity.)

Philosophical Foundation (http://www.univpress.com/Catalog/SingleBook.shtml?command=Search&db=^DB/CATALOG.db&eqSKUdata=0761839895)

B.B. Warfield and Right Reason (http://www.amazon.com/Benjamin-Warfield-Right-Reason-Apologetics/dp/0761832882/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201185934&sr=8-1)

The Nature of Necessity (http://www.amazon.com/Nature-Necessity-Clarendon-Library-Philosophy/dp/0198244142/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201187156&sr=8-1)