Augustine Aquinas & Descartes

 

Textbook

ïSoccio, D. J., Archetypes of Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy, 7th or 8th Edition, Cengage Learning.

I will upload notes per request

Simply Answer 4 questions. This is not an essay… No format

Chps 8,9: Augustine, Aquinas, Descartes

Human Nature

What development in the concept of human nature & the place of the human being occurred during this time period? Do you think it is harmful or helpful to think of human nature as sinful? Do you think it is harmful or helpful to think of the material world and sensible human processes as being almost furthest away from the Good / the One / God (in Plato / Plotinus / Augustine)? In other words, do you think that physical pleasures and material drives are sinful & evil?

Deity

Answer both:

A) Do you think Augustine’s idea of God creating the seeds of evolution [i.e. Godís seminal reasons] could solve the creationist / evolutionist debate today? Both sides could be right?

B) In your own words, explain one of Aquinasí or one of Descartesí arguments for the existence of God.

Ethics

Answer one:

A) Compare Thomas Hobbes’ ethical theory (not in your text – you must read my instructor notes) to Augustine and/or Aquinas’ ethical theories. What major dissimilarities do you see concerning their ethical beliefs? Speculate as to how the Renaissance (1400-1600) may have contributed to Hobbesí shift in thinking. [See my notes on the Renaissance to get some ideas.]

B) A major new ethical theory is introduced & defended — the Divine Command Ethical Theory. Although Augustine introduced ‘love’ into the philosophical ethical discussion, it was more of a ‘love your superior and respect their command’. Do you tend to think of ethics like Aristotle — develop your self and your own ethics, or Augustine – obey rules laid down by divinely-illuminated authorities?

Epistemology

Answer one:

A) Compare Descartes’ ways of knowing to Platoís, Aristotleís, Augustineís or Aquinas’ ways of knowing (choose 2 of these 4 to compare to). What major dissimilarities and/or similarities do you see concerning their epistemological beliefs — i.e. the nature of truth, faith, reasoning, sense experience, etc?

B) Augustine introduced divine illumination as a way of knowing and placed it above reasoning and experience. Do you accept divine illumination as a way of knowing? Where would you place it in relation to reasoning & experience? If your minister said God told him to raise $7 million, would you donate? Is it ever justified to go to war (Jihad or our side) based on divine illumination?

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