Essays on Thomas Aquinas

The Existence of God

The world is definitely the most marvelous and exciting gift ever received. Though everyone is constantly facing various hardships along the way and has to overcome rather complicated challenges, it is still worth living for. Nothing could be compared to the possibility of admiring sunsets, walking in the rain or simply inhaling the smell of the flowers around. The whole universe is ready to present its breathtaking wonders and reveal all mysteries to those who are ready to experience the unknown and set off on an unforgettable and adventurous journey. The biggest mystery is surely the creation of the ...

I. INTRODUCTION The current use of the North-South divide in demarcating global Christian religion is not new. It originated as an economic and political convention to distinguish the First World and the Second World in the North and the Third World in the South. Thus, the churches in the North include the churches in North America, Western Europe, and the developed part of East Asia; while the churches in the South comprise the churches in Africa, South America, and the rest of Asia, including the Middle East. However, the demarcation line can arbitrary depending on the institution that creates ...

Philosophy

Phil Comment Brian J Thomas Aquinas argues that a world without war is not an absolute value, war is necessary for the freedom of people. At the moment this statement is used by politicians all over the world, but, unfortunately, for the sake of their own goals. According to Plato people really lived under an illusion, but they tried about the true world of ideas only in vague shadows on the cave wall. This is true for the modern world, people do not know and see many things.

What can unite these philosophers?

Claude S In the 21st century the majority of people, whom ...

PHILOSOPHY OF HUMAN NATURE

Summa theological is a theological summary that seeks to explain the relationship between God and man. The theological text explains how the reconciliation of the divine and man is made possible through Christ. The book by Aquinas cites proof for existence of the Almighty creator of the universe and outlines the activities that make the nature of the Almighty God. Then the next part, almost one half of the theological summary looks at the nature and existence purpose of the humankind. St. Aquinas writes as a philosopher who is intellectually interested in the truth. The saint writes as a ...

Philosophy and God

Philosophy and God

Abstract

The issue whether God really exist or it is just an imagination created in minds of people has been debated for centuries. Many scientists and philosophers believe that God does not exist. They have challenged believers to scientifically or logically prove that God really exists. Ontological arguments have been put in place by theology philosophers with the aim of proving, logically and scientifically, the existence of God. Philosophers such as Anselm and Aquinas have put across some logical arguments to prove that God really exists. On the other hand, some atheists such as Bertrand Russell have ...

St Thomas was a philosopher in the concept of natural law and the role of God’s justice in the legal system. Ethical arguments between lawyers and judges confront on a daily basis is suggested as an occupational profile for the professional conduct of judges and lawyers in their everyday interactions. St Thomas offers procedural comments on the criminal and civil relations as well as sentencing guidelines. In this era in which a Christian lawyer is many times faced with situations that are unethical and the modus operandi is one of questionable choices, the Christian lawyer and judge have ...

Many centuries ago, there have been arguments on whether or not there is the existence of God. These arguments are the result of atheists and believers. Atheists are people who believe that God and other supernatural beings are man-made ideas. The existence of many religions is also as a result of differences in beliefs about God. Theism, from which theistic is derived, is that belief in the existence of God or gods. From a religious point of view, a God is either a normal or supernatural being. Some religions have one supreme God while others have many gods. The ...

Philosophy

Introduction The question about the existence of God is one of the most debatable in the world. In the course of centuries, a lot of philosopher of different religions and even atheists try to prove or to object the existence of God. Thomas Aquinas is one of the most prominent and influential philosophers and theologians in history, the founder of the theological and philosophical school of Thomism, and the saint of the Catholic Church. Summa Theologica is one of the most famous treatises of Thomas Aquinas. It was launched in 1265, and until his death (1274) it remained incomplete. ...

Thomas Aquinas tried to overcome the conflict between faith and knowledge and to combine morality and religion. According to his teaching, God is the greatest good; therefore, the highest good for man is union with God. In this situation, the morality is the movement toward God. Morality carries out virtues. Virtuous action is the action that expresses a conscious choice, the will of the individual. Bliss is the main goal of human activity and at the same time, it is beyond the capacity of man. This contradiction shows that in a number of points morality and religion have a ...

Since ancient times, thanks to the social needs a person had to distinguish and take into account individual psychological characteristics of people. Even then, people began to think about the existence of a spiritual principle, which has guided their behavior. Psychology, as a special scientific discipline, was born in the depths of philosophy, and so the psychological "dimension" of identity is very difficult to identify and explore not focusing on the philosophical doctrine of man, the specifics of its existence (individual and public), about the nature of human consciousness and activity. The formation of psychology as a science has ...

Article Analysis

Article Analysis Thomas Aquinas is one of the famous personalities of the medieval period. One of his famous works Summa Theologiae gives an account of eternal law, divine law, human positive law and the law of nature in order to explain the meaning of law . Aquinas considered eternal law as the wisdom of God who administers the actions and movements of the created cosmos. The following is an article analysis for Article 3 of Question 2 in the part I section of the book “Summa Theologiae”. In this article, Aquinas quotes an objection that God does not exist ...

St. Anselm's and St. Thomas Aquinas' proofs for the existence of God

The very fact that some people believe in God while others object his existence fostered the need to seek evidence and facts that will proof that God indeed exist. St. Anselm's and St. Thomas Aquinas' are the two renowned personalities that worked to proof the existence of God. These two figures offer a philosophical approach in regards to the existence of God. In an effort to explore their perceptions and insights regarding the existence of God in this paper. I will elaborate and explain the similarities embedded ...

Part 1 Video Critique

In the first part of this assignment, the video chosen to do the critique is an Amateur video of the anatomy of the Archaeopteryx (http://bit.ly/1vImeVp). The Archaeopteryx was an animal that lived about 150 million years ago, in the late Jurassic period. The video starts with several images of various fossils of Archaeopteryx. The narrator begins by citing Darwin’s theory of evolution and states that this theory “predicted that we could find fossils of intermediate forms: creatures that bridge the gaps between modern species”. Then, the narrator introduces the Archaeopteryx, and points out that this animal “ ...

Introduction

Adam Smith is one of the most revered economists that influenced the development of modern economic thought. Adam Smith is famous for coining the term “the invisible hand of the market” which is the perfect metaphor for market movements driven by supply and demand. However what makes Adam Smith’s thinking unique is how it ties is yet contradicts the teachings of great thinkers ahead of him such Aristotle and Saint Thomas Aquinas on their ideas of wealth accumulation and self-motivation. He also thought similarly but contrasted with his contemporaries such as Bernard Mandeville.

Adam Smith was a Scottish ...

1. What are key differences between the ontological, teleological, and cosmological arguments? Identify the philosopher who you think best supports his or her argument. Explain your answer briefly. (200 Words)

The ontological argument was first posited by Anselm. He examined the existence of God using a logical approach using a Christian prospective to interpret Aristotelian philosophy He understood God to be that than which nothing greater can be conceived. Using this definition, it is clear that God’s nonexistence is inconceivable. Therefore, God must exist. St. Thomas Aquinas later utilized this line of thought into the fifth of his five ways ...

This paper endeavors to explain how different ancient philosophers argued of how they believe in God scientifically and biblically and also how the current 21st generations believe in the existent of God as the creator and the provider of the universe. It also covers my personal views of the argument. Baruch Spinoza (in Hebrew Bento is Baruch, in Latin is Benedictions) is one of the most important philosophers and certainly the most essential of the early modern period. His thoughts combine a dedication to a number of Cartesian metaphysical and epistemological principles with elements from ancient stoicism and medieval Jewish. ...

Introduction

Saint Thomas Aquinas is one of the people accredited for having brought theology into the limelight. However, though theology existed long before the emergence of philosophers and fathers if the church, individualistic drives such as those of Aquinas brought a deeper understanding into the mysteries of theology. Modern day theology would not have gotten any bearing without the impact of philosophers and scholars who simplified the understanding of theological concepts. While it cannot be independently verified what the motivation was behind the interest in theology, it is clear that theology is what it is because of the input of the ...

There are not many philosophers in history as influential as Saint Thomas of Aquinas. His works have influenced western philosophy for centuries and found a way to conciliate theological thought and reason. He was a man of his age, one who followed tradition and sought nothing more than to remain faithful to Christ and his church, but knew how to introduce long rejected philosophical systems that were considered contrary to the interests of the clergy. This work is gives an account of the life of Thomas of Aquinas, his academic works, his philosophy and the impact he had on the western ...

Sacraments in St. Thomas Aquinas’ Major Summa (q 60/61/62/63/64/65) - What I Found That Is or Is Not Useful for Understanding Sacraments Today St. Thomas Aquinas is considered one of the Doctors of the Catholic Church because of his great theological contributions, and his philosophy has been so influential in Western civilization that he is also studied by seculars. One of his most important contributions was incorporating reason in the form of Aristotelian logic into the discussion of faith and religious tenants. In Summa Theologica, one of his most important works, he lists six major questions: “Of ...

( Summary) Justice is one pre-requisite for the common good, the others being solidarity and freedom. Common good requires an understanding that human beings depend upon one another for happiness. Common good cannot be achieved if some sections of the society are marginalized. Only a united society can have solidarity. The good of one individual depends on the good of another individual and vice versa. Hence, every individual must be just towards the other. According to Thomas Aquinas, justice is the greatest virtue. One, who has a sense of justice, directs his actions towards the good of others. Every individual has ...

Plato's Influence on Medieval Thought

Plato's Influence on Medieval Thought

Introduction

Plato was born in 428/427 BCE in Athens, Greece. He was a Greek philosopher and Socrates’ student. Plato founded the Academy and best known for his efforts in philosophical works depicting unparalleled influence. Building on various demonstrations by individuals like Socrates that those considered as experts in every ethical matter did not have proper understanding necessary for a prompt human life, Plato came up an idea that the mistake were caused by their lack of proper engagement with a class of identities that he referred to as forms. Key examples of these forms include equality, beauty, and ...

St. Thomas Aquinas’ philosophy is that all living things have a soul; therefore, like humans, brute animals (i.e. non-human animals) possess a soul. The soul being referred to man should not be understood in the same sense that pertaining to animals. The difference between the soul of brute animals and the soul of man is their subsistence. The soul of animals is not subsistent. It mainly pertains to sense, the subsistent form of which is the body. It drives the body and at the same time is affected by the body. Sensory capabilities, and thus the soul, of animals are ...

Religious Studies - Saint Gianna Beretta Molla

Introduction The canonization by the Catholic Church in 2004 of Gianna Beretta Molla as a patron saint of mothers, physicians, and preborn children is a remarkable story of human faith in her religious convictions as both an ethical physician and as a follower of the teachings of God through Jesus Christ his Son. Phenomenal events are common in the worlds of the Old and New Testament and the lives of the saints marked by mystical intervention. In our era, the Eternal Father selects ordinary people from our midst to use as His instrument to spread the gospel. He calling reveals ...

The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture

This book review has been written by Name of Student of Class of Student of Name of College Book Review on How Should We Then Live: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture “How Should We Then Live: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture” deals with the major Christian culture written by Francis A. Schaeffer, and published in 1976. Basing on the book, a series of ten films were produced. In the book, Schaeffer objected to the influences of Renaissance, the Charles Darwin and the Enlightenment. His thoughts inspired many leaders of ...

Augustine (354–430 AD) and Thomas Aquinas (1225 – 1274 AD) were both Christian philosophers who focused on God and what God expected of humanity. An application of their philosophies to decisions made in modern times reveal how much more rigid the lives of people were during the Roman Empire and the medieval period. However, there are still arguments to be made using these philosophical concepts of ethics. In the case of the newspaper columnist who signed a contract and then decided to break the contract because she wanted to accept a better job Augustine’s ethical principles, though rigid, do not ...

- THE OCENTRIC PERIOD: - 500BCE – 0 - Middle Age – Byzantium - ARISTOCRATIC PERIOD: - Renaissance (1450-1550) - The Age of Enlightenment (1550-1789)

IDEAS AND THOUGHT

RESEARCH JOURNAL I. OCENTRIC PERIOD: 1. 500BCE – 0:

Ancient and modern have the following characteristics: - Art was not the beauty residence: it is not the definition of beauty with art. - Reasoning about art theory and beauty developed independently of each other.

Socrates

Socrates was born in Athens in 470 BC. His father, Sofroniks, was a stonemason and his mother a midwife. From his father, Socrates learned the craft ...

Philosophy is the study that entails the issues related to reality, value, reasons, language and mind (Kleiner, 1). Thus, philosophy seeks to make clear issues that regard beliefs, attitudes and concepts of individuals or groups. Literature contributed by Philosophers like Aristotle, Plato, Aquinas, Jean and Descartes have shaped philosophy to a great extent. Their views concerning matters of the world have formed a basis upon which several decisions have been made. This article compares and contrasts their perspectives in the field of philosophy. Aristotle existed between the periods 322 to 384 BC. Plato, on the other hand, existed between the ...

In our lives we are haunted by several questions that we face concerning the problem of evil. For instance, why does Allah (god) who is all-knowing and all-powerful allow evil to exist in the world? Does god do something about evil? However, we assume that existence that the existence of evil disproves the existence of Allah. In my view I believe that Allah is a god of justice. Therefore this problem of evil in Islamic seems to be complex questions. In the book of Zabur “Evils have encompassed me without number” (Psalm "Zabur” 40:12, RSV) As we argue Zarathustra ...

An overview

Introduction In simplest of words, theology is the study of religions and religious beliefs. Some scholars choose to call it the science of deities and divinity. But atheistic scholars do not very much approve of theology as a viable branch of study or ‘science’. Nevertheless, theology has been helping religious people understand, follow and even reform their religions with time. The great theologians in history have acted like a guiding star to bring changes in religious beliefs and rituals. And in the course of past several centuries, the major religions in the world have been modified mainly because of these ...

Introduction

The quest for truth has always been central for many philosophers. It has been a subjugation for many scholars and most of them believed that it is essential to unfold the basic and refined analogy of the age of reason and that of faith in relation to the phenomenon termed as truth. Truth can be said to be something that is intangible and far beyond our understanding of the universe. However, it can be manipulated by so many forces that are within and without human control and that prohibit the growth of mankind (Thomas, & Pegis, A. C. 1998). This unfolds ...

Please read about Thomas Aquinas’ “The Existence of God” and Richard Dawkins’ "The God Delusion.” Relate the two articles to your understanding of God and faith. If you believe in God, is faith in God incompatible with a belief in evolution or science? How would you support your position? How do you think Thomas Aquinas may have responded to Richard Dawkins if he were alive? As human beings, we have the capacity to use our reasoning to come up with some supposedly plausible conclusions. That’s is exactly what Aquinas did by presenting five arguments/claims to support his thesis ...

This essay will be one that intends to expose the nature of belief comparing philosophers such as Blaise Pascal, Soren Kierkegaard on justifications for a belief in god and the reasons we believe in general to attempt to answer a greater question of whether we can logically determine the existence of God. Pascal believes that arguments for god may be logical, but they prove above anything else that god doesn’t care and why would we want to believe in someone that doesn’t care? “To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation ...

An inherent relationship seems to exist between law and virtue. Law is normally perceived as the extrinsic restraint that governs people’s actions, particularly to regulate the morally deficient people. On the other hand virtue is understood as by which an individual acts morally on one’s own. Medieval Philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas, simply describes natural law as “a good to be done and pursued, and evil avoided” he further explains that, whatever promotes life and wards off its barriers is a natural law. Aquinas taught that virtue is a good habit generated by one’s good works (Gonzalez, 197). ...

Introduction -

Thomas Aquinas posited five proofs for the existence of God in his Summa Theologica, one of the most influential theological philosophy treatises in history. For Aquinas, one need not look beyond the evidence of the natural world to find reasons to believe in God, a presence without which motion, natural design or physical existence itself would be impossible. Aquinas sought to modify many of the rational systems that had been in place for centuries, such as the arguments attributed to Anselm. In his way, Aquinas tried to resolve the mystery of faith with a growing desire to introduce some notion of ...

Historical Overview of the Inquisition

In the early Middle Ages, the Roman Church had consolidated its power. The so called heretics became their foremost enemy. Heresy was taken as a crime since it deliberately denied the truth of the Catholic faith (“Historical Overview of the Inquisition,” p. 1). There was a Christian unity pervading at that time and the Church leaders and the ordinary people alike united against the heretics, whom they considered as a threat to society (p. 1). With the popularity and spread of heresy during the 11th and 12th centuries, Pope Gregory IX instituted the papal inquisition in 1231. During this inquisition, the heretics ...

Critical Thinking

Introduction Life is on a constant dynamic cycle that is unpredictable and hard to catch up with. The advancements made in technology require critical thinking to give us a better understanding. Critical thinking can be attributed as the single most basic important skill required in the professional arena. It enables individuals to view careers, completion, and simple basic life on a different yet empowered level. In addition, thinkers are able to analyze other people’s ideas and as well present their own in a clarified yet prudent manner. This can be attributed to the fact that critical thinking lays emphases on proving ...

Introduction

The just theory of war has its roots in the ethics of war embraced by ancient Roman Empire and the catholic gurus of theology. Arguably the earliest proponents of the catholic faith, Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas endeavored to explain why and how war was religiously justifiable. The two gurus of theology argued that a man could serve God and his nation at the same time through being a strong Christian and going to war, in defense of his country (Elshtain 78). According to St. Augustine war was a morally justifiable tool that God had given to the rulers to guard and ...

Arguably, war and philosophy tend to always appear a little common. As a matter of fact, scholars assert that philosophy is a field that defines and establishes the rationality and justice for being part of a war and that it attempts to set norms and rules on how wars in most cases must be conducted. One of the philosophical theories that try to justify the essence of going to war is the Just War Theory. Certainly, the scheme of a Just War is to define and establish ethical and moral foundation for human destructive events and activities. In addition, just war principles tend to ...

In “Republic”, Socrates depicts a picture of people who are imprisoned inside a cave. They have been in the cave since childhood and what they know is what has been happening inside the cave only. The people are sitting down facing forward. They cannot look sideways or backwards because they are tied. This prevents them from seeing what is on their sides and what is behind them (Plato & Bloom 160).

Behind the people, there is a fire and behind it, there is a wall. On the top of the wall there are different statues being manipulated by people behind the wall. The people ...

Essay: Compare and Contrast Aristotle and Plato Over a Variety of Issues

When comparing Plato and Aristotle, one must put in mind that Plato influenced Aristotle, but was never influenced by Aristotle. However, both men are known to be independent thinkers with different opinions and perspective towards life. First to begin with, even though Aristotle was one student of Plato they both had different ways of writing there works. Plato laid out his work on a more dialogue form filled with metaphors and other grammatical gorgons that make it entertaining to read. Aristotle's work is written in straight forward way where points are presented in a straight forward way than that of Plato. ...