Saint Thomas Aquinas: Life, Philosophy, and Scholasticism
Saint Thomas Aquinas: Life and Times
Saint Thomas Aquinas was born in 1225 in the castle of Roccasecca, near Naples. He was a descendant of the Counts of Aquino and Chieti. At the time, intellectual activity was centered around monasteries, particularly in areas related to literature, science, and philosophy. Thomas was educated at a Benedictine monastery until the age of 14. These monasteries were extraordinary centers of cultural outreach, reproducing important works and creating different schools.
Read MoreHuman Rights: History, Violations, and Women’s Rights
Human Rights
Iusnaturalism
Iusnaturalism is the legal doctrine that interprets the law based on the existence of natural rights. Iusnaturalists defend the existence of a natural right prior to any positive law, constituted by principles of justice required by human nature, and preceding any rights issued by a legislative power.
Characteristics of Natural Law
- Immutable: Contrary to positive law, the rules of natural law are not variable. While authorities change and states enact new laws or repeal earlier
Understanding Freedom and Moral Choices in Life
Understanding Freedom and Moral Choices
To be free is to be able to choose. Sometimes we think of utility, of the pleasant, of good and wrong. We are making moral choices. Moral choices refer to the way we guide our lives and live with others. They refer to moral values such as dignity, justice, and solidarity. Sometimes we experience the value clearly, sometimes the counter-value, that is to say, the negative or harmful.
What Does it Mean to Be Free?
Freedom has a double meaning:
- External Freedom:
Impact of AI and Social Media on Modern Life
Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Modern Life
Nowadays, most people share the view that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming our lives. But what can we do to solve the challenges it presents? The first thing that needs to be said is that AI offers immense potential for progress. Secondly, we must address the ethical concerns surrounding its development and deployment. Last but not least, we need to ensure equitable access to AI’s benefits.
Taking everything into account, I strongly believe
Read MorePlato, Socrates, and Aristotle: Ancient Greek Philosophy
Plato: Life and Works
Plato was born in Athens in 427 BC. He was a disciple of Socrates. Disappointed by Athenian political practices during his political career, he dedicated his intellectual efforts to building a model of an ideal society, believing that rulers should be philosophers. He founded his Academy in Athens.
He wrote numerous works in dialogue form, using reason and featuring Socrates as the central character. His works can be categorized into three periods: youth (e.g., The Symposium)
Read MoreAristotle and Plato: Key Philosophical Concepts
Understanding Knowledge and Causality
Knowledge (epistemology) exists only when we know the causes. This is exemplified by the argument of the first question: the unmoved mover, pure act. The cause of the first (generation, corruption, natural change) [physical: movement] is explained by:
- Establishing inherent characteristics
- Form, model, essence, definition (intrinsic)
- Genesis security (extrinsic cause)
- Purpose (extrinsic)
Universal Deductive vs. Inductive Reasoning
Deductive reasoning, as seen in Platonic
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