Lonergan’s Preliminary Notion and Functional Specialties.

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Lonergan’s Preliminary Notion and Functional Specialties.
Method is defined by Lonergan as the normative pattern of recurrent and related operations yielding cumulative and progressive results. It is a set of rules of operations.
o   To conceive theology as a method is to conceive theology as a basic pattern of recurrent and related operations proceeding cumulatively and progressively towards a goal
His preliminary notion conceives method not as a set of rules but as a prior, normative pattern of operations which rules may be derived. He notes that every operation has ingtentionality and consciousness. Thus the operations intentionality is that of an object, that occurs consciously and operated by a subject.
Hence, method is divided into four levels of conscious intentionality, two phases of theology and eight functional specialties. He notes that conscious intentionality occurs at four levels: Empirical (experience), intellectual (understanding), rational (judgement), and responsibility (decision). Thus, this entails gathering of facts (data from experience), which provokes inquiry; understanding them; judging them through discernment and taking a decision.
In order to formulate the conception of theology, he makes four distinctions of three types of theology
i)                   Field specialization: entails dividing and subdividing the field or data
ii)                 Subject specialization: entails the classification of the results of investigation.
iii)               Functional specialization: entails distinguishing and separating stages of the process from data to results.
Hence functional specialization presents the independent operations in method and links field and subject specialization. Functional specialties has eight stages with each having different end and employing different means.
a.       Research: gathering or relevant data, making available original texts and closely related texts.
b.      Interpretation: understands what is meant
c.       History: considers various human events and activities, judges and narrates them.
d.      Dialectic: conflicts, dynamics and contradictions in interpretations are unravelled.
e.       Foundations: resolution of conflicts (from dialectics_) within the fundamental horizon of truth, good and God.
f.        Doctrines: emergence of doctrines after conflict resolution which express judgement of act and value.
g.      Systematics:  attempt to interpret and explain the ambiguity of doctrine.
h.      Communication: provides suitable means of communicating the interpreted doctrine to the public using art, language and religion.
With this Lonergan presents the two phases of theology as mediatory theology (oration obliqua) and mediated theology (oration recta).
o   Mediatory theology is that which encounters the past and its experiences. It involves what theology has said in the past about God and the economy of salvation. It include research, interpretation, history and dialectic.
o   Mediated theology is the theology in the present and the theologian enlightens by the past, confronts the problems of the present time. It is the contemporary appropriation of tradition in order to assimilate the future. It includes foundations, doctrines, systematics, and communication.
Consequently correlation and derivation between the four level of conscious intentionality and the eight functional specialties are made as follows.

4 levels
1st phase (mediatory theology)
2nd phase (mediated theology)
Experience (empirical)
Research
Communication
Understanding(intellectual)
Interpretation
Systematics
Judgement (rational)
History
Doctrines
Decision (responsibility)
Dialectic
Foundations

Here each of the four levels correlates with the two phases and are derived from the four levels. Hence, there is interdependence between the four levels and the two levels presenting the dynamic unit of theology.
o   Therefore, the entire process is unified by the cognitive dynamic of the subject who is performing the theological task.

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