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Philosophy.

3 random tidbits in about 5 minutes.

A Philosophy Article.

Subject: Separatist Term & Epistemology.

Roger Williams was a 17th Century Separatist.

Explore the use of this term over the centuries.

Stepping back for a moment.

If you use the modern definition of separatist that includes intolerance of others, then Roger Williams was not a separatist. Furthermore, he supported all people living, and working together in the same community for the common good. Sometimes people forget the context of the time and conflate his desire to separate from the Church of England run by the government with the separatist movement based on races. I think some with a desire to promote white supremacy do this on purpose.

Now, the details…

Was Roger Williams a separatist? The short answer is yes if your definition is the 17th century separatist movement which wanted to separate from the Church of England. “Separatism” in his time primarily referred to religious and church-state separation rather than the broader, sometimes racial or ethnic, connotations it has today.

For the story of Roger Williams, check out his biography: Roger Williams Biography and Dedication to the Freedom of Conscience. For a visual timeline of his life, check out the Roger Williams Timeline. For now, though, let’s zoom in on his adopted religions.

I think it is fair to say Roger was a Protestant from a young child, he was ordained a Protestant Anglican Minister in 1629 in London, England, and became a separatist by the time he left England for the Massachusetts Bay Colony arriving in February 1631. In 1639 he completely separated from the Protestant religion when he became a seeker. He briefly converted to baptism and founded the first baptist church in America. His role in founding the first Baptist church in America was part of a broader spiritual journey that saw him advocating for religious freedom beyond any single denomination.

Modern Definition of Separatist

Let’s explore…

A separatist is a person who supports the separation of a particular group of people from a larger body on the basis of ethnicity, religion, or gender. For the sake of this article, I will use Racial Separatist for this full definition. Why? Because Roger Williams did advocate for separating from the Church of England on religious grounds which has caused much confusion and is frequently conflated to paint him as a racist.

Roger Williams wanted to separate from the formal government run Church of England because of valid reasons. Just because you separate from something does not mean you are a Racial Separatist. Many say Roger Williams was a staunch separatist because he wanted to separate from the Church of England. He didn’t want to separate, he wanted to change it. He wanted to separate from the formal government run church as a form of protest because it was government run, and required all, even non-believers, to support the church. Furthermore, they burned heretics at the stake. He was for the individual freedom of and from religion. He spoke out against persecution for the crime of thinking and believing something. After he failed to change the Church of England from within as a puritan, he separated from it so he could continue to speak out. Furthermore, over his lifetime, he did change the church! He exercised his conscious, not advocating for the Racial Separatist movement.

Williams Lived with Native Americans Tribes

In January 1636, Roger Williams left the Massachusetts Bay Colony and lived with two local tribes for about a half year. During that time, he worshipped, and if anyone wanted to worship with him, they were welcome. But, he did not force his religion on anyone.

Jewish Settlers Welcomed at Providence

Roger Williams welcomed Jewish settlers in his community. He did not say they had to live elsewhere. Roger Williams even visited with them in Newport.

In 1644, in his book, Bloody Tenent, he remarked that Jews:

“may be clear and free from scandalous offences in their life, as also from disobedience to the Civil Laws 0f a State”

In 1655, Roger Williams wrote a letter in response to the charge that he advocated infinite liberty of conscience. The story in the letter has become known as the Parable of the Ship. His famous parable is a short story in which papists, protestants, Jews, and Turks all live and work together for the common good.

To learn more, check out my articles on the Parable of the Ship and Separation of Church and State.

That Philosophy Article,

was first published on TST 2 years ago.

The flashcard inspired by it is this.

A Philosophy Quote.

Subject: Holism.

“The whole is more than the sum of its parts.”.

Aristotle.
345 BCE.

From living organisms to societies, complex systems gain new properties through interaction and organization.

Simply put.

Aristotle’s insight challenges us to reexamine our understanding of complexity. When individual parts converge, something novel emerges. The whole transcends its components, revealing new patterns, properties, and potentialities. Do we have a soul or do we emerge from the parts of the mind?

Now, the details…

Aristotle’s profound statement invites us to reconsider how we perceive the world. It suggests that when elements are combined, a new and unique entity emerges that cannot be fully understood by examining its components in isolation. You are made up of the dust of stars, yet you are more than just water, carbon, and various gooey liquids.

This concept is evident in everything from a symphony to a society, where the interplay of individual elements creates a harmonious whole with qualities that transcend the sum of its parts. Also known as Holism, it views things as a whole, emphasizing interconnectedness and interdependence, and values unity and synthesis. This sentiment resonated through the ages and across continents.

Aristotle echoed this fundamental philosophical idea in his book “Metaphysics.” In it, he discusses the idea of “substance,” which emphasizes the interconnectedness of all things. This notion of an underlying, unifying essence mirrors the intricacies of the natural world, where each element, though distinct, harmoniously contributes to the grander mosaic of existence. Holistic thinking is essential for fully understanding complex systems like living organisms and ecosystems. This perspective is among the earliest to develop and remains a well-accepted philosophical concepts.

That Philosophy Quote,

was first published on TST 2 years ago.

The flashcard inspired by it is this.

Front: What is the philosophical view that emphasizes the overall over isolated parts?

Back: Holism.

A Philosophy Story.

From History:

Subject: Situational Ethics.

Augustine of Hippo.

born 354

Lived from 354 to 430 CE, aged about 76.

Life is full of hard choices. In situational ethics, clear-cut right and wrong tend to give way to reducing harm or choosing the lesser of two evils.

The central point is this.

Situational ethics reminds us that even in war, moral limits still matter. When avoiding harm is not possible, the moral task becomes causing less harm. Although war is often immoral, Just War Theory exists to limit violence and discourage war crimes. That includes principles like proportional force, avoiding unnecessary civilian harm, and treating prisoners humanely.

Now, the details…

67 Generations Ago.

30 Philosophers, Chapter 15: Augustine, Time, and War.
Saint Augustine of Hippo was born in 354 CE in Roman North Africa, in what is now Algeria. Raised by a Christian mother and a pagan father, he spent his early years exploring rival ideas before converting to Christianity and eventually becoming bishop of Hippo. Augustine matters because he stands at the crossroads of theology, philosophy, and lived human struggle. In 30 Philosophers, his chapter is framed around time, eternity, and war, which fits him well. He was not just a church thinker. He was a builder of moral and metaphysical structure, trying to reconcile human suffering, divine order, and the realities of life in a collapsing world.

Augustine’s Just War Theory is one of his most enduring contributions to situational ethics. He faced a hard question: if Christianity calls us toward love, peace, and neighborly duty, what do we do in a violent world where war still comes? Rather than take a total “just say no” stance against all war, Augustine chose a situational path. He argued that war might be justified under limited conditions, such as self-defense, right intent, legitimate authority, and the exhaustion of peaceful alternatives. He also argued that even when war begins, it must be morally restrained. Noncombatants should not be targeted, force should be proportional, and violence should be limited to what is necessary. In that sense, Augustine was trying to place a moral leash on one of humanity’s worst instincts.

Beyond war, Augustine’s reach was much wider. He is also remembered for his reflections on time, memory, eternity, sin, grace, and the restless nature of the human soul. His Confessions helped shape inward self-examination, and The City of God helped frame the tension between earthly politics and higher moral order. Even when people disagree with his theology, they still feel his influence. He helped define how the West would think about inner life, moral struggle, and the search for meaning for centuries to come.

My favorite Augustine quotes:

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.
Right is right even if no one is doing it; wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.
There is no saint without a past, no sinner without a future.

That Philosophy Story,

was first published on TST 4 years ago.

The flashcard inspired by it is this.

Front: What do we call a decision in which every available option carries some moral cost?

Back: Moral dilemma.

The end. Refresh for another set.

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