A fulbrighter observes Lithuania going West Cover Image

A fulbrighter observes Lithuania going West
A fulbrighter observes Lithuania going West

Author(s): John F. X. Knasas
Subject(s): Philosophy
Published by: Lietuvos mokslų akademijos leidykla
Keywords: Lithuanian identity; democracy; tolerance; truth; nationalism; globalization; analogy; Catholicism; Aquinas; natural law

Summary/Abstract: To be Western now is to be democratic; but to be democratic one must profess tolerance, and tolerance means the exclusion of characteristic claims in regard to religion, nation, culture, philosophy, etc. In the West the ideal of tolerance has gained in popularity from the realization that the cataclysms of the last century were caused by people who believed that their way was the only true way. In sum, the idea of truth was the problem. I appeal to Lithuania’s Catholic heritage to present two strategies to solve the problem of truth and tolerance. Lithuania’s going West need not mean neutering itself culturally by going secular and sceptical.

  • Issue Year: 2006
  • Issue No: 1-2
  • Page Range: 20-24
  • Page Count: 5
  • Language: English