An extended review of a 2024 book by Elmer John Thiessen
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Cascade, 2024. 224 pages. $40 (e-book $10)
What does it mean to know in a post-truth era?
Alarmed by deep social division caused by poor thinking and poor dialogue, retired Canadian philosophy professor Elmer Thiessen sets out to address the “closed-mindedness and intellectual arrogance” he observes inside and outside the Church.
Thiessen, now in his eighties, writes with tender concern for the health of the Christian mind while stressing the central problem “is not how we think but who is doing the thinking.” This focus on thinking virtuously (and the virtue of the thinker) sets up the central purpose of his book: to equip readers to consider, practise and nurture intellectual excellence for the good of the Church and society.
The book begins with definitions and reflections on the importance of intellectual virtues and vices. Thiessen orients lay readers to the philosophical landscape without overwhelming us. The Greco-Roman categories of “virtue and vice” initially seem like an imposition on Thiessen’s biblical treatment, but he carefully and convincingly makes the case for his framing. It is almost inescapable to agree with his interpretation of wisdom, knowledge and truth as intellectual virtues; and to understand the effects of sin on the mind (what some theologians might call noetic sin) as intellectual vices.
Thiessen explores three intellectual virtues he deems most important and would most like to see nurtured and cultivated to address contemporary intellectual challenges: love of knowledge and truth, intellectual humility and committed openness.
His chapters, while rigorous, read more in the tone of a conversation than condescension. Readers are offered brief philosophical reflection alongside biblical and very practical considerations. Might our relationship with Netflix be due to idle curiosity (vice)? Can we evaluate sermons and political allegiances as expressions of love of truth (virtue)? Can honouring our parents and grandparents be seen as an act of intellectual humility (virtue)?
Christian readers like me may find themselves skeptical at first of his call to cultivate open mindedness. However, Thiessen carefully navigates the pitfalls of close-minded and dogmatic thinking and the equally dangerous hazards of empty-headed, wandering and neutral minds in the name of openness. His case can be easily summed up with the dictum, “faith seeking understanding.”
Thiessen explores three more relational virtues in a single chapter: intellectual forbearance, fairmindedness and courage. Each is rich enough that it could have been a chapter on its own. He refreshingly addresses topics like tolerance, political correctness and cancel culture with a disarming tone and a plea to restore love of intellectual neighbour and enemy as a priority for engagement and disagreement.
In keeping with his commitment to practical application, each exploration opens with a questionnaire for self-evaluation that is scored to help readers assess their possession of a given virtue.
Philosophers are often more attuned to nuance – which may come across as repetition to lay readers – but the book’s quick pace offsets this potential barrier. Like a good teacher, he provides anecdotes and examples to illustrate and explain the theoretical concepts.
He also anticipates questions and objections well, while also pushing readers to introspection on intellectual life in unexpected ways. Whether he’s addressing intellectual vices in politics, religion, vaccines or some other tricky topic, readers will not easily escape discomfort or culpability.
Thiessen’s Christian commitments and love for the Church is evident in his no-nonsense plea to turn from our intellectual sins and cultivate the mind of Christ. He not only calls readers to reflection and personal and communal resolve to cultivate intellectual virtue, but to repentance and prayer as well.
Christians are uniquely primed to lead the world in this kind of intellectual shift in thinking if we are willing to do the hard work. And the work will only have widespread effect if we do it together. Reading this book is inspiration to join in.
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