Quotable Quote: Gordon H. Clark on Learning Philosophy

According to Gordon H. Clark in his history of philosophy, Thales to Dewey, all branches of knowledge are inter-related and depend on some connection with philosophy and with each other.  That would include arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, physics, linguistics, and even theology.  Clark says:

The best way to study philosophy is to argue; argue with the professor in class and argue with fellow-students outside.  Arguing, serious arguing, is philosophizing.  Gordon H. Clark, Thales to Dewey, 1957, (Ann Arbor:  Baker, 1980), reprint.  Page 8.

The same can be said for learning theology.  The only way to learn theology or philosophy is to argue the points in question and examine every possible angle.  Then and only then are you learning anything at all.  As Clark put it:

But there remains a question whether a student can think or argue seriously with an empty mind.  (Ibid., page 8).