The Transcendentals and Their Importance

The podcast episode explores the concept of the transcendentals, which are truth, goodness, and beauty. These transcendentals go beyond our ordinary experiences and material reality. They reflect something beyond the physical world and are intimately related to philosophy, culture, and theology. The origin of the transcendentals can be traced back to Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, who believed in the existence of a realm of ideal forms and recognized the purpose and order in the natural world. The biblical portrayal of God also emphasizes the ordered and purposeful creation, while Augustine further develops the idea of the transcendentals as unity, truth, and beauty. The classical approach to the transcendentals focuses on teleology, the recognition of goals and final ends, as well as the development of virtuous character and the ordering of affections. Ultimately, the transcendentals reflect God and his nature, and encountering beauty can be a transcendent experience that brings us closer to God.