Even though its task is limited, the philosophy that keeps the line between God and cosmos in mind need not be in want of work. For a philosopher who believes that God created the cosmos proceeds every time again from the presupposition that the wealth in that which is created will be much greater than has been ascertained up to that time. For that reason, such a philosopher can never say, “I am ready, look here, a closed system.” On the contrary, her result, though acquired systematically, is always a provisional one, for she remains filled with expectation, attuned to new surprises that will no doubt complement the main conception that agrees with belief, yet will time and again supplement and usually alter earlier findings.
Vollenhoven Introduction
to Philosophy
The provisional title for my introduction is Tasks and
Cosmos. The above quote from Vollenhoven gives a good indication why.
Central to reformational philosophy is an aversion to speculation, and a
down-to-earth focus on the world we live in. This cosmos, created by God, is
good and richer, more varied and surprising than any philosophy has so far been
able to fathom. A Christian philosophy must be "attuned to new
surprises". The focus of philosophy is this cosmos in its
interrelated diversity. But secondly the emphasis is on the notion of tasks.
First of all the task of philosophy itself. This though is just one of many
possible tasks that can be taken up by us creatures made in God's image.
Reformational philosophy starts out from a notion that every truly human task is
good and limited. Even though such tasks are limited, as Vollenhoven points
out, they are given for human flourishing and provide ample work in honouring
God and serving our neighbours.
