Human Nature vs. Culture: Learning and Development
Human Nature and Culture: The Role of Learning
The confrontation between nature and culture has sometimes been presented as the disjunction between learning and inheritance. Subjective culture is that knowledge acquired through learning. The nature of the process would be genetically programmed, so it is acquired during embryonic development. The debate about the relationship between the natural aspects of human beings is almost as old as reflection on humanity itself. What is human behavior?
Many
Read MoreSaint Augustine: Life, Philosophy, and Faith
Saint Augustine: Life and Historical Context
Saint Augustine (354-430 AD) lived during a difficult time. Originally from Numidia in North Africa, he experienced the social upheavals characteristic of the fall of the Roman Empire, which must have been a significant human and transcendental experience. The Empire had adopted Christianity as its official religion in 380 AD. Augustine’s reflections, therefore, were based on his observations, interpreting and making sense of the facts. At the time, followers
Read MoreSaint Augustine’s Theory of Illumination
Wisdom and Enlightenment
The concepts of “wisdom and enlightenment” are central to Saint Augustine’s Theory of Knowledge. This theory aimed at creating a *paideia*, a system of education and training for Christian citizens. This education was driven by the pursuit of truth, ultimately leading to happiness. Augustine believed that knowledge progresses through varying degrees to reach absolute truth and wisdom, which is God.
Degrees of Knowledge
- Sensation/Feeling: This is the first grade of the spirit
Understanding the Bible: Origins, Structure, and Key Concepts
The Bible: An Introduction
The Bible is a collection of books on varied topics. They are united by the theme of God’s love for humanity. It originates from the experiences of people who felt loved by God. This process involves:
- Experiencing God’s intervention in life and history.
- Reflecting on these experiences and expressing faith in God.
- Sharing these important experiences as gifts from God.
- Writing down this faith to preserve the experience.
Old and New Testaments
Old Testament: 46 books, collecting
Read MoreSt. Augustine’s Philosophy: Theology, Anthropology, and History
St. Augustine of Hippo: A Synthesis of Philosophy and Faith
St. Augustine was a pivotal philosopher of the Middle Ages, whose introduction of Christian ideas profoundly reshaped the prevailing modes of thought.
Key Concepts in Medieval Thought
Four central ideas stand out in the medieval mindset, all significantly influenced by St. Augustine:
- Monotheism: The belief in a single, creator God. This concept of creation contrasts with the idea of an eternal universe. Creation from nothing underscores divine
Key Figures and Concepts in Christian Theology
Communicatio Idiomatum
St. Augustine: The philosophy for Augustine was the love and effort of the whole soul toward wisdom and truth. Truth, for Augustine, was the supreme ideal to which he was passionately devoted. This truth refers to the soul and God, the two objects of philosophical concern.
Original Sin
- What is original sin? It is the offense committed against God by the first human couple. That sin was the source of others and created the situation of sin into which all men are born.
- How did it