(1) Reason and Belief (2) Reason and Goodness
In his first series of lectures, Blanshard surveys the relationship between reason and belief in Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions. After discussing Luther, Kierkegaard, Brunner, and Barth, he argues that rationality, though fallible, is the best way to navigate the evolution of religion. In his second series, he explores the tension between reason and goodness through stoicism, love, objectivism, instrumentalism, and linguistic analysis, concluding that the rational mind requires a combination of intellect, character, and feeling.