* The idea of man as a microcosm has been prevalent throughout history, influencing philosophy, theology, and science* Our understanding of the cosmos directly impacts our self-perception and societal structures* The shift from viewing the world as divinely ordered to power-controlled has profoundly affected human governance and social dynamics Get full access to Jason Farley's Substack at jasonfarley.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Jason Farley's Substack at jasonfarley.substack.com/subscribe

The world of Critical Theory, and all of modernism, puts rivalry at the center or reality. The Gospel undoes rivalry. Get full access to Jason Farley's Substack at jasonfarley.substack.com/subscribe

* Newton's work unified terrestrial and celestial physics, but didn't intend to challenge religious views* Kant's interpretation of Newton's work popularized a mechanistic universe concept, diverging from Newton's religious perspective* The shift from descriptive to causative understanding of natural laws marked a significant change in scientific philosophy Get full access to Jason Farley's Substack at jasonfarley.substack.com/subscribe

* Kant attempted to reconcile metaphysical nihilism with philosophical realism by proposing a two-tiered reality: phenomena (experienced world) and noumena (things-in-themselves).* Kant's work marked a shift from metaphysics to epistemology in philosophical discourse, influencing modern and postmodern thought.* The division between "two kinds of truth" (faith-based and sense-based) has had lasting impacts on how we conceptualize knowledge and reality. Get full access to Jason Farley's Substack at jasonfarley.substack.com/subscribe

* Machiavelli's ideas led to a paradigm shift from philosophical realism to political realism, prioritizing power and pragmatism over traditional moral frameworks* This shift redefined societal values, emphasizing security and success over virtue, and viewing leadership as productive knowledge rather than theoretical or practical wisdom* The widespread adoption of Machiavellian principles has fundamentally altered our understanding of governance and morality in politics, potentially to civilization's detriment Get full access to Jason Farley's Substack at jasonfarley.substack.com/subscribe

* Aristotle defines 3 main knowledge types: theoretical, productive, and practical* Theoretical knowledge subdivides into epistemae, nous, sophia, and gnome* Knowledge integration (theory, production, application) was historically prioritized* This framework helps identify where modern thinkers deviate from integrated knowledge Get full access to Jason Farley's Substack at jasonfarley.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to Jason Farley's Substack at jasonfarley.substack.com/subscribe

* "Overlapping spheres of authority" are nested (like Russian dolls), not 2D overlapping circles* Liberal arts education, especially astronomy, cultivates 3D thinking crucial for understanding complex societal structures* Modern education shifted from fostering free thought to emphasizing obedience, limiting our ability to conceptualize complex ideas* Sphere sovereignty involves nested authorities providing checks and balances, distinct from the modern equation of authority with power Get full access to Jason Farley's Substack at jasonfarley.substack.com/subscribe

* Maximus the Confessor's vision of a "cosmic liturgy" portrays the universe as a grand, unified act of worship moving towards God* This theological perspective influenced medieval thought, scientific revolution, and cathedral architecture* The concept reframes individual purpose within creation as participating in ongoing worship and transformation* Maximus's creator-creature divide concept significantly impacted theological understanding of reality Get full access to Jason Farley's Substack at jasonfarley.substack.com/subscribe