Thomas Aquinas: Philosophy, Faith, and Reason
Thomas Aquinas: Philosophy, Faith, and Reason
Historical Context
St. Thomas Aquinas, a 13th-century thinker, lived during a period of European revival marked by growing towns, trade, and the rise of universities. Feudal society still prevailed, but the emergence of the bourgeoisie signaled societal change. This era witnessed the ideal of universal Christianity, influenced by cultural exchanges between Islam and Christianity, spurred by the Crusades and the Toledo School of Translators. The introduction
Plato’s Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Political Philosophy
Plato’s Philosophy
Ontology
Plato’s ontological dualism posits two realities: the sensible world (material, temporal, changing) and the intelligible world (universal, eternal, unchanging ideas). The intelligible world, accessible through reason, is the true reality. Ideas, independent of the material world, are the causes of things. Sensible things imitate or participate in these perfect Forms.
Epistemology
As the first rationalist, Plato believed true knowledge comes from reason, not senses. Science,
Read MoreJohn Locke’s Political Philosophy: Key Concepts
John Locke’s Political Philosophy
Key Concepts
Consent
Free and voluntary agreement of an individual to become part of a political community. Synonymous with agreement or contract. Can be of two kinds: express (given clearly and explicitly) and tacit (implicitly granted by any individual by the mere fact of living and enjoying the benefits of an already created community).
State of Nature
Situation in which men are before forming a civil society through the social contract. Men in this state are governed
Read MoreIndividualism, Nation, and State in the Era of Revolution
Unit 10: Old Regime and Revolution: Change and Persistence
10.1. On the Bourgeois Revolution
In the context of the French Revolution, the goal was to build a new individual and new ways of organizing society. The English Revolution sought to recover old English forms. In contrast, during the second half of the eighteenth century, popular discourse focused on ruptures linked to the American Revolution. Revolution emerged as an abrupt and disorderly change in public affairs. Both traditional and novel
Read MoreSocial Inclusion and the Welfare State: An Ethical Perspective
Ethical and Social Inclusion in the Welfare State
Altruistic cooperation forms the ethical basis of social work, establishing the dignity of all people. Humans, as rational beings, shape their world and transform their environment. The welfare state is the context within which social inclusion and exclusion processes operate in our time. It represents a societal project founded on individual dignity, requiring both material and relational fulfillment.
The Human Project and the Creation of Values
According
Read MorePlato’s Philosophy: Knowledge, Ethics, and Politics
Plato’s Philosophy
Knowledge
Plato aimed to refute the skepticism and relativism of the Sophists. He believed that true knowledge is universal and unchanging, exemplified by mathematical knowledge. This knowledge is essential for achieving virtue and a fulfilling life.
Plato presented two paths to knowledge:
- Knowing is Remembering (Reminiscence): Plato’s dualism of the immortal soul and the mortal body suggests that the soul possesses innate knowledge from the ideal world. Learning is a process of