Ep. #49 – First Principles of Knowledge w/ Karlo Broussard
Summary
What are the first principles of knowledge? And if they are first principles must we just accept them on blind faith? How do you answer the liar’s paradox? Didn’t David Hume debunk the principle of causality? Karlo Broussard, author of Prepare the Way, joins us to answer these questions and more.
Guest Bio
Karlo Broussard is a staff apologist and speaker for Catholic Answers. He travels the country giving talks on apologetics, the Bible, theology, and philosophy. Karlo holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in theology and philosophy. Karlo is a dynamic and gifted speaker, communicating with precise thought, a genuine love for God, and an enthusiasm that inspires.
Show Outline
In the first segment, gives us a sneak peek at his current project with Catholic Answers. He defines what we mean by “first principles” of knowledge and lists examples.
In the next segment, Karlo explains and defends logical and metaphysical first principles. These include: the principle of non-contradiction (PNC), the principle of causality (PC), and the principle of sufficient reason (PSR). While the ideas are abstract, Karlo walks us through everyday examples to explain the application of these principles.
In the final segment, I throw a bunch of objections at Karlo. From Graham Priest to David Hume to Evolution, we tackle some big counterarguments. Finally, I ask Karlo about the principle of finality and how these principles related to theistic arguments.
Resources Mentioned
Prepare the Way by Karlo Broussard
Catholic Answers School of Apologetics
Catholic.com – the website of Catholic Answers
Who Designed the Designer? by Michael Augros
St. Thomas Aquinas and the Principle of Sufficient Reason by Dr. Scott Sullivan
Related Episodes
Ep. #15 – Proofs of God & The Problem of Hiddenness
CORE #01 – 7 Thoughts for Discussing Arguments & Evidence
Karlo’s a great guest! I have been his fan since reading his excellent Prepare the Way. It’s a real shame more people haven’t heard of the book. You really can’t change someone’s worldview if you haven’t shown that his previous views were not exactly based on sound thinking. A touch of presuppositionalism.
Thanks, Maunu, for the comment! I agree that Karlo’s book Prepare the Way is chock full of great information and apologetics. It’s always fun to have him on!