THE CHRISTIAN AFRIKANERS - The Works of F. N. Lee

This then brings Stoker to another overlap. This time it is that between the anthropological group ofsciences and the cultural group of sciences. Here on the margin of these two, he has theoreticaleducation, its factual application in empirical and historical education, and its technologicalworkings-out in applied education. So too, he has the theory of history and the empirical andfactual history of mankind. Further: theoretical political science; its factual application in empiricaland historical political science; and its technological outworkings in the applied political sciences.Next follows theoretical sociology; its factual application in empirical and historical sociology, andits technological outworkings in applied sociology. Then, in his purely cultural groups of sciences-- he has logic and theoretical linguistics factually worked out in empirical and historical linguisticsas well as in the history of the sciences. He also has theoretical economics factually worked out inempirical and historical economics, and technologically worked out further in applied economics.Stoker then presents his critique of art -- theoretical art and aesthetics and art theory, factuallyworked out in empirical art and the history of art and in all the varieties and technologicalramifications in applied art.Next come theoretical jurisprudence -- factually worked out in empirical and historicaljurisprudence, and technologically worked out in applied jurisprudence. Then follows theoreticalethics, worked out factually in empirical and historical ethics; and theoretical religious science asworked out factually in empirical and historical religious science. So much, then, for Stoker'sarrangement of the various special sciences.I believe this scheme of Stoker's that we have just run through -- his theological sciences scheme,his philosophical sciences scheme, and then his scheme of the various special sciences (and finallythe interrelation between these three groups) to be extremely valuable. I myself see it as a reflectionin man's scientific research of the Ontological Trinity. I think it is important not only because itclearly shows the interrelationship of all of the special sciences, but also because it emphasises thenecessary interrelationship within each science -- of theoretical, historical, empirical and appliedscience.Stoker was born in 1899 -- in Johannesburg. In preparing this series of lectures, I came across apersonal letter written by the then seventy-two Stoker to me some nine years ago. It is dated 17thDecember 1971, and I would like to share it with you.He says: "Dear friend and brother Dr. Lee. Concerning the receipt of Dr. Van Til's Festschrift,Jerusalem and Athens, I am completely in the dark. I only received the Festschrift, and further don'tknow anything. The matters that you have just informed me about regarding the way in which it isbeing received and the report that it will possibly be republished, does my heart good. But, as I say,up till today, I am still in glorious ignorance."As far as my article in the Festschrift concerning Dr. Van Til is concerned, I did my very best todo him justice. Unfortunately, he is a much misunderstood figure. Your translation of my article onChristian Scholarship, I still have here. I would like to improve it technically and terminologically,here and there. But let us indeed regard it as final and settled that you will publish the translation."As a matter of fact, you can do it without any strings attached from me. Just do allow me to writea short Preface to the English translation that you have made, to thank you -- and also to point outto the reader that since writing this work, I have come to further insights and developments..."Until deep in January 1972, I will not be able to look through the corrected manuscript and send itback to you. Here, I am all bound up with two study items that I have to do for the Christian