About the Course
Welcome to Insight and Beyond, a two-semester course given at Boston College by Professor Patrick Byrne of the Philosophy Department.
The course is a comprehensive examination of Bernard Lonergan’s magnum opus, Insight: A Study of Human Understanding, as well as certain texts that represent key developments in Lonergan’s thought after the publication of Insight.
Professor Byrne wrote:
“Frequently I have been asked, ‘Why isn’t Lonergan better known? Why aren’t his ideas part of the contemporary, mainstream philosophical conversations?’ These questions are usually posed to me by people who have only recently come to appreciate the magnitude of Lonergan’s intellectual achievements, and are puzzled why he is so widely ignored in intellectual circles. Certainly part of the answer has to be the great obstacle posed by his masterwork, Insight. For one thing, it is 770 pages long (in its 1992 edition), and difficult reading throughout. In addition, its first five chapters are devoted to topics of the methods of the modern natural sciences, topics unfamiliar to most readers.”
This course and its video recording were undertaken in the hope of providing beginners (and perhaps also advanced scholars) with entry points and clarifications of Lonergan’s often difficult but valuable contributions. The video recordings of the lectures and student discussions are being made available to the larger community of those interested in exploring Insight.
The course was originally intended also to explore the developments in Lonergan’s post-Insight works on meaning, interpretation, history, ethics, values and religion in the second half of the course. However, class discussion of the 20 chapters of Insight itself required nearly the entirety of the two semesters.
All students shown in this series of video presentations have given their explicit permission to appear in them.
Instructions for Viewing the Course
The lectures and PowerPoint (PPT) slides from the course are being made available online for anyone interested in Lonergan’s thought through a video platform called Panopto©, which recreates the original lecture and class discussion. This format makes it possible to watch the video of the class session and also simultaneously view the PPT slides used to illustrate it. Each class session has been divided into two (2) parts. There is a separate link for each part of each class session.
We have also provided outlines of the main topics covered during each class session. Times for key points are also included in the outline, so that you can scroll ahead to that topic if you so desire. The link to the outline for each session is located alongside the corresponding link to the Panopto recording for that session.
In addition, Dr. Timothy J. Lynch, Lecturer emeritus in the School of Philosophical Studies at The Queen’s University of Belfast, has been preparing transcriptions of the class lectures. Links to the transcripts that have been completed are also provided, along with links to the video recordings of the sessions and the outlines.
Entering Panopto
When you click on the link to a class session, you will first see a screen like this:
The class session video is in the upper left corner, and the corresponding PPT slides to the right. This initial view is the standard view.
There are other options. You can also expand either the video or the PPT slide to fill the entire screen.
You can also click anywhere on the scroll bar to advance. Times from the beginning of the video will appear, and you can scroll to the time in the class session that you desire.
Insight and Beyond, Part 1 Classes
Syllabus
Class 1
Part 1: Introduction to Lonergan’s Thought
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2: Introduction & Preface; Exercise in Self-Appropriation
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 2
Part 1: Self-Appropriation; Preface & Introduction
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 1 §§1&2): Overview of Chapter 1; Dramatic Instance & Definition
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 3
Part 1 (CH 1 §2): Definitions
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 1, §§2-5): Definitions, Inverse Insight, Higher Viewpoint, Empirical Residue
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 4
Part 1 (CH 2 §1): Why Does Lonergan Begin with Science? Math & Science Compared
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 2 §§2&3): Classical Heuristic Structure; Inferences from Classical Laws
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 5
Part 1 (CH 2 §3): Systematic and Non-Systematic Processes
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 2 §§3&4): Non-systematic Processes & Statistical Heuristic Structures
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 6
Part 1 (CH 2 §4 and CH 3 §§1-5): Non-Systematic Processes, Co-Incidental Manifolds & Statistical Methods; Canons of Empirical Method
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 3 §6 and CH 4 §§1&2): Canons of Statistical Residues; Complementarity of Classical and Statistical Investigations
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 7
Part 1 (CH 4 §2): Complementarity in the Known: Emergent Probability
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 4 §2 and CH 5 §§1&2): Emergent Probability (continued); Space and Time
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 8
Part 1 (CH 5 §2): Human Space and Time
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 5 §§1-5): From Human Space and Time to that of the Science of Physics
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 9
Part 1 (CH 5 §§1, 3 & 4): Explanatory Space & Time: Special Reference Frames
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 6 §1): Common Sense as Intellectual
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 10
Part 1 (6 §§2.1-2.4): Patterns of Experience
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 6 §§2.5-2.7): Dramatic Pattern and Dramatic Bias
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download
Class 11
1 Part Only (CH 6 §2.3 & Topics in Education, CH 9): Aesthetic and Artistic Patterns of Experience
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Class 12
Part 1 (CH 7 & Topics in Education CHs 2&3): Common Sense as Object & The Good as Developing Object
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 7 & Topics in Education CHs 2&3): Common Sense as Object & The Good as Developing Object
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 13
Part 1 (CH 7 §8): The Longer Cycle and Cosmopolis
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 8): Bodies, Things, and the Real
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 14
Part 1 (CH 9): Judging
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 10): Reflective Understanding
Insight and Beyond, Part 2 Classes
Syllabus
Class 15
Part 1 (CH 11): Affirming and Characterizing One’s Self
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2: Self-Affirmation and Consciousness
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 16
Part 1 (CHs 12 & 13 and Cognitional Structure): Why is Doing That Knowing?
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 12 and Cognitional Structure): The ‘Epistemological Theorem’ and the Unrestricted Notion of Being
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 17
Part 1 (CH 13): Tripartite Objectivity
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 13): Principal Objectivity and Subject-as-Subject
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 18
Part 1 (CH 14): The Method of Metaphysics
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 14): Metaphysics as Dialectical
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 19
Part 1 (CH 15): The Integral Heuristic Structure of Proportionate Being: What is it?
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 15): Finality
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 20
Part 1 (CH 15): Isomorphism of Human Knowing & Proportionate Being
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 14): Potency, Form, Act—and Development
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 21
Part 1 (CH 16 §4.1): Metaphysics as Science: Unity of the Universe
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 14): Metaphysics as Science: Unity of the Human
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 22
Part 1 (CH 16 §4.3; CH 15 §7.4): Intrinsic Intelligibility of Being; Humans as Spiritual
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 17 §1): Material vs. Spiritual; Meaning of Religious Symbolism
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 23
Part 1 (CH 17 §1): Mystery, Myth & Metaphysics
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (Method in Theology CH 4; Lonergan’s Universalist View of Religion): Religious Experience & Religious Expression
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | Course Transcript
Class 24
Part 1 (CH 17 §§2&3): From Below Upwards & Above Downwards; Interpretation
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 17 §3): Expression & Interpretation
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | Course Transcript
Class 25
Part 1 (CH 17 §3): Interpretation: Universal Viewpoint & Functional Specialty
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 18 §2): The Notion of Freedom
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | Course Transcript
Class 26
Part 1 (CH 18 §2): The Structure of Knowing and Doing
Outline | Video Recording | Complete Audio Download | PowerPoint Download | Course Transcript
Part 2 (CH 18 §1): Method in Ethics & Ontology of the Good
Outline | Video Recording | Course Transcript
Class 27
Handout outlining the argument for God’s existence
Part 1 (CH 19 §§1-5): Conceiving Transcendence: Idea and Understanding
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download
Part 2 (CH 19 §§6-1): Affirming Transcendence: God’s Existence
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 28
Part 1 (CH 19 §10): The Argument for the Existence of God
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download
Part 2 (CH 18 §3 & CH 20 §1): Problem of Liberation and the Problem of Evil
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download
Class 29
Part 1 (CH 19 §§10-11): Reconsideration of the Argument for the Existence of God; Structure of Collaboration against Evil
Outline | Video Recording | Audio Download | PowerPoint Download
Part 2: Student Questions in Preparation for Final Exam
Media Downloads
Below you will find download links for audio and PowerPoint files. These zipped files allow for a one-time download of the entire course in bulk. If you would like to download only a particular audio or PowerPoint file, please use the links provided in Classes section corresponding to the appropriate class.
Note: At this time, video files are not available for download. It is recommended that you view video files through the Panopto streaming links provided in the Classes sections. If your bandwidth restrictions prevent you from streaming, please contact us and we may be able to mail you a flash drive or DVD with the lectures.