...Anselm and Aquinas Argument Regarding God The article I am writing is about Anselm and Aquinas views on God’s existence and the different arguments trying to find out the same thing, does god exist? And if so what is he? The following will be a comparison about Anselm and Aquinas views on god. I mostly agree with Anselm on the topic of that if god were to exist that he would have to be greater than anything conceived. Although I think Aquinas argument that if everything has the possibility of not being, then at sometime nothing exists and there would be nothing now, and is too weak to have it worth my support. First I will explain the assumption of Anselm and Aquinas, and then evaluate the assumption of each. I will compare and show Anselm and Aquinas unlikeness and differences between their arguments, and finally put my view on the issue. One of Anselm’s arguments is that there is nothing greater than God that can be conceived. He is stating that god is all greatness, perfect, the best and is the most worthy. Anslem says that god is the greatest and if there was a way to describe an example of him then it wouldn’t be god anymore. Second of Anslems argument is, that god exists at least in our understanding. What he is trying to explain is how God is in our understanding, our mental existence or in thought (a vision in our mind). He is saying that if we think of something that is god then he exists in our brain because we have thought of him in the first place...
Words: 1666 - Pages: 7
...act. For motion is nothing else than the reduction of something from potentiality to actuality. But nothing can be moved from a state of potentiality to actuality, except by something in a state of actuality... it is therefore impossible that in the same respect and in the same way a thing should be both mover and moved i.e. that it should move itself (Aquinas). The second way: The way of CAUSATION The second way is from the nature of efficient cause. In the world of sensible things we find there is an order of efficient causes. There is no case known (neither is it, indeed possible) in which a thing is found to be the efficient cause of itself; for so it would be prior to itself, which is impossible. Now in efficient causes it is not possible to go on to infinity, because in all efficient causes following in order, the first is the cause of the intermediate cause, whether the intermediate cause be several, or one only. Now to take away the cause is to take away the effect. Therefore, if there be no first cause among efficient causes, there will be no ultimate, or intermediate, cause. But if in efficient causes it is possible to go on to infinity, there will be no first efficient cause, neither will there be an ultimate effect, nor any intermediate efficient causes; all of which is plainly false (Aquinas). The third way: The way of CONTINGENCY The third way is taken from possibility and necessity, and runs thus. We find in nature things that are possible to be and not...
Words: 1035 - Pages: 5
...A thing in existent may be inexistent. A thing inexistent may be existent. This shows the beauty in postmodernism because it gives us an endless possibility of expressing ourselves. Indeed, a message may be communicated by the use of signifiers which is essentially the heart of postmodernism. A thing, which may be nothing, may be something when viewed differently. Hence, something that does not exist in a work of art may be seen through the connotation of the thing in some other aspects of our lives. For instance, a sun may signify hope, which may then signify attainment of dreams, which may signify success, and so on – the possibility is infinite. From this single thing in a work of art, we may infer different things in different perspectives. However, we may convey a specific meaning in our work when we present the sun with other different things connected to it, making the items interconnected and forming distinct, closely-related messages. Nevertheless, conveyance of ideas by applying postmodernism doesn’t end in what we see, because, in truth, there are many more ideas that are yet to be seen. What strikes me the most about postmodernism is the disorientation that it incites from people. The deconstruction of what is because it is not and what is not because it is. From this, we are obviously confused for how can a thing be something when it is nothing or be nothing when it is something. Here comes the quality of postmodernism that is usually paradoxical, full of irony...
Words: 476 - Pages: 2
...a. The Gift The aporia that surrounds the gift revolves around the paradoxical thought that a genuine gift cannot actually be understood to be a gift. In his text, Given Time, Derrida suggests that the notion of the gift contains an implicit demand that the genuine gift must reside outside of the oppositional demands of giving and taking, and beyond any mere self-interest or calculative reasoning (GT 30). According to him, however, a gift is also something that cannot appear as such (GD 29), as it is destroyed by anything that proposes equivalence or recompense, as well as by anything that even proposes to know of, or acknowledge it. This may sound counter-intuitive, but even a simple 'thank-you' for instance, which both acknowledges the presence of a gift and also proposes some form of equivalence with that gift, can be seen to annul the gift (cf. MDM 149). By politely responding with a 'thank-you', there is often, and perhaps even always, a presumption that because of this acknowledgement one is no longer indebted to the other who has given, and that nothing more can be expected of an individual who has so responded. Significantly, the gift is hence drawn into the cycle of giving and taking, where a good deed must be accompanied by a suitably just response. As the gift is associated with a command to respond, it becomes an imposition for the receiver, and it even becomes an opportunity to take for the 'giver', who might give just to receive the acknowledgement from the other...
Words: 688 - Pages: 3
...Often in science fiction literature, authors take a unique approach in creating a world outside of the one that is considered “normal”. They spend a lot of time vividly describing the workings of this new world and how it looks. It’s not uncommon to see color descriptions, long comparisons, and reflections in science fiction stories. The most interesting portion of this approach is the author’s ability to capture the readers’ attention and the reader can actually visualize this unknown speculation. In The Faery Handbag by Kelly Link, the author relies on a unique combination of wit and sarcasm to keep the reader guessing about the actuality of this secret world in a grandmother’s purse while author Aimee Bender in Mazipan takes a literal style to make the reader believe this world exists. Both stories combine actual possible events with a little hint of fantasy to create great works of art. The characterization of Mazipan versus the characterization of The Faery Handbag is the most significant difference between the two stories. “Characterization is the method used by a writer to develop a character. The method includes (1) showing the character's appearance, (2) displaying the character's actions, (3) revealing the character's thoughts, (4) letting the character speak, and (5) getting the reactions of others,” according to tnellen.com. In Bender’s story, the characters have a simplistic surface. The family seems quite normal outside of the hole in the father’s belly. The...
Words: 1010 - Pages: 5
...Holden’s relationship with Jane Gallagher exhibits the adversity to face the possibility of rejection. While attempting to find methods to waste his time, Holden considers to call Jane Gallagher, his former neighbor of whom he respects and finds attractive. He thoroughly develops a plan to pose as someone else if anyone but Jane answers his call. After much consideration, Caulfield abandons the idea claiming that he, “... wasn’t in the mood” (63). Throughout the beginning of the novel, it is apparent that Holden has feelings toward his old neighbor, and perhaps he may even be in love with her. However, Caulfield masks his love for Jane with various excuses to conceal his cowardness. The idea of love presents itself within the relationship of Holden and Jane. Caulfield, unfortunately unable to react to his feelings toward Gallagher, responds cowardly to prevent the possibility of having to face any form of rejection. By protecting himself from rejection, Holden displays his conflict to accept and understand the concept of...
Words: 737 - Pages: 3
...it maintain its name and reassure business would slowly pick back up. Chivalry in a sense is the sum of the ideal qualifications of a knight, including courtesy, generosity, valor, and dexterity in arms. The Fukushima 50 exhibited all of these qualities. First they showed their courtesy by staying behind and waiting for the reactor to cool down, in order to make sure the country wasn’t harmed any further. Their generosity helped saved millions of people. In another way, the Fukushima 50 showed their chivalry by acting in valor and ensuring that the reactor would not be set off again. By “taking one for the team” they ensured safety and tranquility throughout Japan. Without the sacrifice of these men, the possibility of many more lives being lost would become an actuality. By backing up their company and sticking behind their workplace throughout disastrous times, these “modern day” heroes prove that chivalry isn’t dead. Unlike many men and women today, the Fukushima 50 prove that the medieval practice isn’t entirely gone. Never has such a group of people been so supportive during a crises of such proportions, continuously validating that their company is not a threat to humanity. All in all the Fukushima 50 have proved their chivalry through a number of actions post to the reactor explosion. Their valor, generosity, and courtesy...
Words: 349 - Pages: 2
...Humans have a strong need to classify the world around them, this is influenced by the lack of understanding some people hold of the world and wish to make clearer, mainly through social and cultural issues, in this essay I will delve into these said issues and attempt to bring about an understanding and solidarity to the reasons behind these results for 'the way humans think about the world around them'. Classification is a process that is done universally by all societies and cultures in which people give/find meaning to what they don't understand, although all societies and cultures inhabit this process not all classify the same as the other; most societies exhibit diversity through their cultural influences so the actions of one culture/society may seem strange or irrational to other group, E.g. (Azande) Witchcraft, Evans-Pritchard studied the Azande peoples are their view on society and their culture, he found that they explained various misfortunes though the cause of witchcraft, he saw this as irrational when measured against science; he couldn't see things from their perspectives and had a rose-tinted view when studying the Azande culture, however he failed to recognise the similarities between witchcraft and science; both these are belief systems (Cosmologies) they both have people putting faith in a (witch) doctor. Cultural influences, even though most anthropologists try to give meaning to culture, are only abstract reality conducted though social constructs put...
Words: 1014 - Pages: 5
...several institutions following her graduating college. These institutions included Muskegon Heights and University of Oregon. Tyler was fascinated by the things she read in the writings of her students and how diverse the writings were, which fueled her interest in individual differences. She got to see firsthand how some forced choices and pressures of life would shape her students’ futures. Tyler opened a counseling center for soldiers returning from WWII where she spent one third of her time counseling. With all the resources she had to make money Tyler was able to publish her first book in 1947 entitled, “The Psychology of Human Differences”. After all her years of study, teaching, and counseling Tyler came up with the theory of possibilities. Her theory states that all creatures are characterized by multipotentiality (http://www.webster.edu). She explained that even though people have many...
Words: 804 - Pages: 4
...and the consequences of surgery. The president of the National Research Center for Women and Families, Diane Zuckerman, does for example appear in both articles, due to her relation to the issues. In the first article by Valerie Ulene, she emphasizes the problems of the modern world’s view on beauty and the culture of unrealistic ideals. This is in her opinion one of the primary issues in this topic, and she does as well refer to a study that shows no evidence of improving self-esteem after surgery. Valerie Ulene is querying the surgeons herself, but does refer to the president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Dr. John Canedy, who seems to have a critical view as well on cosmetic surgery among teens, but doesn’t exclude the possibility of improved self-esteem. By this it is crucial in Canedy’s view that the surgeons select the patients carefully. Text 2, “Seeking Self-Esteem through Sugery” by Camille Sweeney does, as mentioned before, also focus on the beauty issues of the modern society and “a culture of celebrity obsession and makeover TV shows”. This is among others expressed through co-author of “So Sexy, So Soon”, Jean Kilbourne, who emphasizes the impossibilities of meeting the values of beauty. Another one, Ann Kearney-Cooke, does even characterise the tendencies as “an epidemic of low self-esteem among girls”. A last angle appearing in the two articles are the consequences that can happen due to cosmetic surgery, which teens often forget or ignore, and at...
Words: 1020 - Pages: 5
...There are particular characteristics that of pragmatism in the development of a curriculum. Firstly knowledge is true if it can be of any use. Pragmatism holds truth or actuality comprises in what lives up to expectations, a thing is genuine in the event that it demonstrates great and serves an attractive end. It is false on the off chance if it doesn't work out and the basis for any demonstration is its functionality. Ideas are good only if it works well. The value of a thing is its workability (Camorongan, 2010). Pragmatism perceives the importance of personality (Camorongan, 2010). It stresses a feeling yet subordinates them to the will. Pragmatism considers the result more than the intention, regardless of the possibility that the plan is poor yet the results are great, the value of the plan is incredible. Education must set up the child for participation in a community and train them in experimental methods in the result of issues imperative to group life (Camorongan, 2010). Education is child centered it is focused around the interest and knowledge of the child who must create learning and plans key to his life in the group. He must have the option to pick what he supposes is beneficial for him. There is no fixed curriculum for all the children, the fact that every child is not the same as the others and each one will take after his interest and experience. Subsequently, the curriculum is built as the learning advances. Education is a planning forever in other words it...
Words: 573 - Pages: 3
...boat near the flats presented a threat of life to the young children around that vicinity. The municipal was thus responsible for the injury that the boy suffered. It was thus ruled that the municipal had to reimburse for the injuries sustained by the boy. Applied in the case at hand, the SCL Company owed a duty to Emma because it was their duty to ensure that the roof tiles are tightly fitted to prevent them from slipping. This is so because it is well-known to the SCL company workers that the slipping of the tiles from the roof can cause damage to whoever will be near or passing by. The harm was clearly foreseeable in this case. Apart from the occurrence being foreseeable, the SCL Company owes a duty of care to Emma since there is actuality of a satisfactorily close affiliation between the two. The...
Words: 2073 - Pages: 9
...Guide to Possibility In his scholarly article entitled, Does Conceivability Entail Possibility (2002), Professor David J. Chalmers of the University of Arizona examines the argument that to conceive of something necessarily entails its possibility. Chalmers states that arguments regarding conceivability and possibility typically consist of three parts; the first is the epistemic claim---conceived statement (S); the second is the modal claim---because S is conceived of, S is necessarily possible; and the third is the metaphysical claim, consisting of an assertion about the nature the universe. For example, I can conceive of that my mind exists independent of my brain, therefore it is possible that my mind exists independent of my brain, meaning that the mind is not reducible to the brain. Similarly, I can conceive of seeing without eyes, therefore it is possible that I can see without eyes, meaning that sight is not reducible to eyes, but is something independent of the eyes. But is it? In this second example, in particular, the distinction between a metaphysical possibility and a natural possibility is clear. While it is perhaps metaphysically possible to see without eyes---in a different world with different physical laws that do not require eyes for sight---in our present world, it is not naturally or physically possible to see without eyes. In broader terms, the metaphysical possibility of S does not necessarily translate to the physical or natural possibility of S. Says...
Words: 1654 - Pages: 7
...Most grandparents find the idea of being unable to see their grandchildren inconceivable. In actuality, however, thousands of grandparents have faced the loss of their visitation rights. Some have successfully negotiated, either in or out of court, for grandparent rights, including their right to see their grandchildren. Others have had to face the sad reality of going for years without the prospect of a visit. The concept of grandparents rights is relatively new and is the product of several factors. These factors include greater longevity, which has given many grandparents larger roles in their grandchildren’s lives, and a rising divorce rate, which in many cases has put those relationships in peril. Grandparents facing the loss of their visitation rights have sought legal relief from a patchwork of laws and legal precedents which vary greatly from location to location. In the United States, grandparents rights are governed primarily by state statute, but no less an authority than the U.S. Supreme Court has weighed in on the subject. State statutes on the subject of grandparent visitation rights vary from statutes considered to be permissive to those considered to be stringent. The Supreme Court case which applies to grandparenting visitation rights, Troxel v. Granville, involved a Washington State statute governing the rights of third parties to seek court-enforced visitation. Although the statute did not specifically mention grandparents, they were most likely to seek...
Words: 534 - Pages: 3
...The scarlet letter 1. Did you like this book? why or why not? It was a bit hard to read this book, the sentences can be confusing and they made me read every single sentence over and over.However,Even though I didn't love this book, I kind of could relate to the book. We live in a world where everyone's opinnion are important, where society can say if something is acceptable or unaceptable.I kind of liked this book, but the tittle called me attention so I read it, and I can tell that the things that happen in the book, actually happens in the actuality, maybe not in this country, but other countries. The book tell us that what people think, it doesn't matter, what it really matters is what we think and it's really true because we are influeced by people, by society because we are afraid of being judged. 2. Could you relate to the story? How did it connect to your life? I can relate this book to the society, by mentioning how at school kids care about what other kids wear, and who they hang out with as well as many other things. And these kids allow that to affect their performance and happiness at school. The opinions of others should not be allowed to consume anyone's lives. It should only be used for beneficial reasons. That's how I connect it to this society we live in. 3.How does the tittle relate to the book? I had to investigate about it a little bit more to really understand and answer this question but here it goes.When religion and law were inseparable,when a...
Words: 526 - Pages: 3
