...THOMAS AQUINAS Introduction Saint Thomas Aquinas is one of the most famous saints of the Catholic Church. He is called a 'Doctor of the Church' and was a theologian, and philosopher. His parents sent him to a monastery when he was five years old and his teachers were surprised by how quickly he learned and his great faith. But when Thomas announced that he wanted to become a Dominican, his family tried to stop him. His brothers captured him and locked him up in a castle. His mother, sister and brothers kept him there for two years. Thomas was a very big man with a kind and humble manner. Because he didn't talk very much, people thought he was stupid and therefore called him 'the ox.' When they heard him preach, however, everyone realized how wise Thomas really was. After he became a priest, Thomas studied in Paris and taught at universities in many cities of Europe. He wrote more than 40 books and several beautiful hymns. All of his work praises God and helped many people understand faith better. At the end of his life, Saint Thomas stopped writing and he had a vision of Heaven. Because of this experience, Thomas decided that compared to the great glory of God, his writing was 'like straw.' Three months later, on his way to see the Pope, he died. Thomas Aquinas’ Early Life and Eduacation He was born in Italy in 1225, the son of a count. When he was five years old, his parents send him to study with the Benedictines of Monte Casino. There, and later at the university...
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...Thomas Edison was born in Milan, Ohio, and grew up in Port Huron, Michigan. He was the seventh and last child of Samuel Ogden Edison, Edison developed hearing problems at an early age. The cause of his deafness has been attributed to a bout of scarlet fever during childhood and recurring untreated middle-ear infections Edison's family moved to Port Huron, Michigan, after the railroad bypassed Milan in 1854 and business declined;[10] his life there was bittersweet. Edison sold candy and newspapers on trains running from Port Huron to Detroit, and sold vegetables to supplement his income. He also studied qualitative analysis, and conducted chemical experiments on the train until an accident prohibited further work of the kind Edison obtained the exclusive right to sell newspapers on the road, and, with the aid of four assistants, he set in type and printed the Grand Trunk Herald, which he sold with his other papers.[11] This began Edison's long streak of entrepreneurial ventures, as he discovered his talents as a businessman. These talents eventually led him to found 14 companies, including General Electric, which is still one of the largest publicly traded companies in the world Edison began his career as an inventor in Newark, New Jersey, with the automatic repeater and his other improved telegraphic devices, but the invention that first gained him notice was the phonograph in 1877 This accomplishment was so unexpected by the public at large as to appear almost magical...
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...Thomas Jefferson Overview I watched the film Thomas Jefferson (Ken Burns), which is a film that tells the story of the life and times of Thomas Jefferson told by multiple historians and narrated by Ossie Davis (actor). From the beginning of part I our country’s third president is introduced as an intensely educated man; a man who was passionate about religion, agriculture and engineering. He is talked about as an enigma; he enjoyed many things from wine to architecture. He was talked about as a gentle man, so much so that he even as president couldn’t muster enough militia to guard his own estate. He was humble, humble enough to not even think his presidency was important enough to place that achievement on his own headstone. At thirty-three years old he was assigned to write the Declaration of independence for what we now enjoy as the United States of America. John Hope Franklin, a historian spoke of Jefferson in a reverent yet also disapproval, Franklin seemed to point out the fact that Jefferson was articulate and understanding enough to write the words that embodied the natural human desires of Freedom and Liberty, but at the same time never could free his own slaves. He was born into prominence on his mother’s side, and was introduced into what it meant to be self made by his father. At six Jefferson was reading and a master of Greek and Latin and also learned the violin at self taught. His father passed away when he was only 14, but it appeared that his father...
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...The Dividing Declaration The Declaration of Independence was written in 1776, to declare to the world, that the British colonies in America were declaring themselves as an independent nation. What made this document so profound, was the reference to the laws of nature and the rights that man had to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. In the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson, the author composes a document that changed the history of humanity by including rhetorical devices, such as, imagery, anaphoras, and capitilization. In Jefferson's document, he uses imagery as one of his rhetorical devices for an effective understanding of what he was experiencing or going through. This rhetorical device gives a clear picture of how the way things worked when he was in Great Britain and how it became completely necessary to dissolve the political bands between Britain and the United States. “He has refused Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good” (Jefferson 263). This develops an image of the King sitting on his thrown while people are not even given the necessary needs for living. By stating that sentence as a visual concept, it has caused readers to think about how harsh the people were treated by the king. Throughout the passage there are many statements that create a vivid idea of what Jefferson tries to get across in his passage. Another device used throughout Jefferson's passage are anaphoras, which assist into re-emphasizing...
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...Thomas Green: Power, Office Politics and a Career in Crisis As the marketing director, one of Frank’s duties is to increase sales in all regions that report to him. Frank called a meeting, and during this meeting he explained that he needs his entire senior marketing specialist team to increase sales in their region by 10 percent. One of Frank’s senior marketing specialists, Thomas, didn’t enthusiastically support Frank’s sales forecast and voiced his displeasure out loud in front of everyone at the meeting. Furthermore, Frank would not have selected Thomas for the senior marketing specialist position because he only has five months of experience as a market specialist. Thomas was given the senior marketing specialist position out of favoritism from the Travel Division Vice President, Shannon McDonald. The working style of Frank and Thomas are on opposite sides of the spectrum that it is causing problems in the work place; Frank is well organized, detail oriented, proactive, and looks at the big picture. Thomas on the other hand, focuses on sales, is not conscientious, and just concentrates on the task at hand. As a result of these two different working styles, Frank and Thomas do not see eye to eye on how to work cohesively to carry out the task of increasing sales by 10 percent. In Frank’s memos to the Travel Division Vice President Shannon McDonald, he highlights Thomas’s working style and personality which are causing a rift between both of them. Frank mentions that when...
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...Thomas Jefferson By Juan Garcia Introduction The third president of the United States, Jefferson is most famous as the author of the Declaration of Independence, a document that served as a profound expression of his own beliefs on equality and natural rights, as well as a concise articulation of the revolutionary impulses of an emerging nation. Long revered as one of America's founding fathers, Jefferson remains the subject of intense scholarly debate in the twenty-first century. Of particular interest to current critics and historians are his views on the separation of church and state, and the inconsistency between his well-documented belief in individual liberty and his status as a slave owner. His views on Native Americans, African-Americans, and women are considered at odds with the principle of universal equality he claimed in the Declaration to be “self-evident.” Biographical Information Jefferson was born at Shadwell, in Goochland (now Albemarle) County, Virginia. His father was a self-made man and an early settler of the Virginia wilderness, and his mother was a member of a prominent Colonial family, the Randolphs. Jefferson attended private schools and the College of William and Mary, where he studied law, science, literature, and philosophy. He was admitted to the bar in 1767 and practiced law for two years. In 1769 he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses. During that same year he designed and began building Monticello, his famous family home, in...
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...Troy University Senator Thomas Sumter “The Fighting Gamecock” Jennifer Mitchell US History to 1877 Professor Crews 10 May 2015 Thomas Sumter: Birthplace and Childhood Thomas Sumter was born near Charlottesville, Virginia on August 14, 1734 to William and Patience Sumter. Sumter received a limited education in common schools. As a boy, Sumter worked in his father’s mill. After the early death of his father, Sumter tended his mother’s sheep and plowed the fields of neighboring farms. There is not much information on Sumter’s early years. Some accounts portray Sumter during his teen years as a wild boy, given to drinking and gambling. However wild he was as a youth, adulthood proved Thomas Sumter to be a man of honor as soldier, a politician, and a businessman. Thomas Sumter: Brigadier General As an adult, Sumter joined the Virginia Militia in which he began a fascinating military career filled with many accomplishments. Some of the more interesting accomplishments included acting as an interpreter during a delegation between the Cherokee Indians and King George III and single handedly capturing a French emissary sent for the sole purpose of causing conflict between the British and the Cherokee. Sumter claimed many victories during the Revolutionary war and along the way sustained various injuries. His courage, confidence and feisty attitude on the battlefield and his strategy in guerrilla warfare earned him the nickname “the fighting gamecock”...
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...Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson was born in Shadwell Virginia on April 13, 1743. He was the third child out of six sisters and one brother. He did have two other brothers but they both died in infancy . His father was Peter Jefferson and died when he was only fourteen. His mother was Jane Randolph Jefferson. After his father died, he became the head of the household and inherited 2,500 acres of land and at least twenty enslaved African Americans. Even though Thomas inherited all of this his, guardian John harvie managed the estate until Thomas was twenty-one. Thomas began his studies under a tutor because the colony of Virginia had no public schools. When he was nine he went to live with a scottish clergyman who taught him Latin, Greek, and french. After the death of his father , he entered the school of James Maury near Charlottesville. In 1760 he entered the College of William and Mary at Williamsburg. After leaving college in 1762 he studied with George Wythe. In 1767 he was admitted to the bar. Thomas married in 1772 to Martha Wayles Skelton. They had one son and five daughters but only two lived to maturity. Martha died in 1782 leaving Thomas a widow. Thomas never remarried. Writers like John Locke, Algemon Sidney, Francis Hutcheson, Henry Home, and Lord Kames had an enourmous influence on thomas's political philosphy. thomas had been raised in the Anglican Church but he developed a dirstrust of organized religon. thomas had intrest othe thatn politics such as archeology...
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...BACKGROUND St. Thomas Aquinas was philosopher and theologian. Hewas born circa 1225 in Roccasecca, Italy. He is the son of Landulph, count of Aquino and his mother, Theodora, countess of Teano. Thomas had eight siblings, and was the youngest child. Though Thomas's family members were descendants of Emperors Frederick I and Henry VI, they were considered to be of lower nobility. Combining the theological principles of faith with the philosophical principles of reason, he ranked among the most influential thinkers of medieval Scholasticism. An authority of the Roman Catholic Church and a prolific writer. In January 1274, St. Thomas Aquinas embarked on a trip to Lyon, France, on foot to serve on the Second Council, but never made it there. Along the way, he fell ill at the Cistercian monastery of Fossanova, Italy. The monks wanted St. Thomas Aquinas to stay at the castle, but, sensing that his death was near, Thomas preferred to remain at the monastery, saying, "If the Lord wishes to take me away, it is better that I be found in a religious house than in the dwelling of a layperson." On his deathbed, St. Thomas Aquinas uttered his last words to the Cistercian monks who had so graciously attended him: "This is my rest forever and ever: Here will I dwell for I have chosen it." (Psalm 131:14) Often called "The Universal Teacher," St. Thomas Aquinas died at the monastery of Fossanova on March 7, 1274. He canonized by Pope John XXII in 1323. Source: http://www.biography.com/people/st-thomas-aquinas-9187231#early-life& ...
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...moral philosophy and metaphysical philosophy. Philosophy is a system of principles for guidance. So how do philosophy and the Christian life intersect? One of the ways to understand that is to look at the early church philosophers that have shaped our knowledge and understanding of the scriptures. In the following paragraphs we will examine the philosopher Thomas Aquinas. Thomas had a way of understanding God that you may or may not agree with but hopefully will learn about him in the paragraphs ahead. Thomas Aquinas was an Italian Dominican theologian and philosopher that is believed by many to be one of the most influential thinkers of Scholasticism and is also know as the father of the Thomistic school of theology. Thomas Aquinas was born in the year 1225 in Roccasecca, in the Kingdom of Sicily also know as present day Italy. He combined the theological principles with the principles of reason and he is ranked by many as one of the most influential thinkers of medieval Scholasticism. Thomas was the son Landulf of Aquino and is believed to be born in his father’s castle. At the age of five Thomas began his education at Monte Cassino to train among Benedictine monks. He remained there until he was around the age of 13 when political tempers began to flare and that forced him to move to Naples. It was while he was studying at the Benedictine house in Naples that he was introduced...
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...Thomas Jefferson By: Jamie M. Narron American History I Instructor Dr. Alan Lamm Thomas Jefferson was born on April 13, 1743 at Shadwell, his family’s farm in Albemarle County, Virginia. Thomas was the third child in the family of 10 children, six girls and 4 boys. His father, Peter Jefferson had many jobs during his life; he served as a surveyor, sheriff, colonel of militia, and member of the House of Burgess. His mother, Jane Randolph Jefferson, came from the one of the oldest families in Virginia. [1] Thomas grew up as any normal young colony boy would. His interest included hunting, fishing, horseback riding, and canoeing. All the children learned to play the violin and to appreciate music. Peter Jefferson taught Thomas to read and write, and to keep the farm accounts. [1] At the age of nine Thomas began his studies in local schools, and went to live with a nearby Scottish clergyman, who taught him Latin, Greek, and French. [1] At the age of fourteen Thomas Jefferson’s father passed away. Thomas being the oldest son became the head of the family. His inheritance included Shadwell with its 30 slaves and more than 2, 500 acres of land. John Harvey, Thomas’s guardian, managed the estate. [1] After Thomas’s father died, he entered the school of the Reverend James Maury, near Charlottesville. Thomas Jefferson was a remarkable genius, he enjoyed a large number of pursuits ranging from reading the works of Greek and Roman authors, and he read these in their own...
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...simply knew that He was not an invention of humans. Even so, many of them tried to prove that God was real. The main conflict in the XI century was between two social groups: First of all, those who saw theology as a Bible commentary –and said that God was unreachable and a mystery-. Secondly, those who thought that rational analysis would be better -and were in favour of a more empirical and rational knowledge-. Religion and philosophy were largely mixed. The task of philosophical theology was to clarify, determine and explain the existence of God. How were philosophers supposed to do it? What are the different approaches taken by two of the most important medieval thinkers –Anselm of Canterbury and Thomas Aquinas-, and how do they differ? ***** Both Thomas Aquinas and Anselm of Canterbury identified God as a supreme being with a large number of attributes, necessary for life and the cause of the universe. They acted as mediators between the philosophical problems of their time. Anselm of Canterbury defined God as "that than nothing better can be thought" -meaning that we think of God as the most perfect being, the supreme being-. He considered it possible to demonstrate the existence of God from the mere intellectual understanding of the concept of God. He rejected the observation of the world. The existence in reality is greater than in the mind alone. Thus, if God was just in our mind, the definition of “than that nothing better can be thought” would...
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...Thomas Edison [Author Name(s), First M. Last, Omit Titles and Degrees] [Institutional Affiliation(s)] Author Note [Include any grant/funding information and a complete correspondence address.] Thomas Alva Edison was born at Milan Ohio, February 11, 1947 (Coller & Chamberlain, 2012). His reputation is well known, starting inventions from the tender age of four. His success in the field of invention saw him become a very great figure in the field of invention. Many facilities and institutions have been named after him. Thomas Edison rose from humble beginnings to work as an inventor of major technology. In his early life, Edison supposedly had a troubled childhood due to an assumed delicacy that he might have had brain trouble. This led to him being homeschooled due to his poor academic performance. A hyperactive child, prone to distraction, he was deemed difficult by his teacher. No one ever expected Thomas Edison to make such a far-reaching impact then. The mother, who was an experienced teacher herself did all in her power to ensure the rapid development of Edison’s intellect. The latter evolved to be an avid reader of literature, eventually revealing his gift as a youthful genius. For a child, it was found that his retentive capability was way beyond average (Greene, 2010). In his early life, Thomas developed a hearing impairment. However, the origin of this condition is not well known. According to specialists, the condition was as a result of scarlet fever as...
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...Thomas Pynchon Thomas Pynchon, a contemporary as well as a post-modernist writer began his writing career and found much success in the nineteen sixties and seventies eras. Pynchon was influenced by his time period and wrote about the serious issues surrounding society, while also incorporating satirical notions, which reflected his quirky personality. The sixties and seventies produced a culture heavily focused on science, mathematics, technology, industrialization, war, and also a counterculture movement focused on pop culture, self-expression, sex, drugs, and crime. In each of Thomas Pynchon’s writings, representations of these key environmental, social, political, and cultural forces that define these eras are evident. Pynchon began his collegiate career studying engineering physics at Cornell University. Although he did not complete this degree, Pynchon was heavily interested in science and technology. His first job out of school was with Boeing Aircraft Corporation in which he was a technical writer and found inspiration for many of his works (Pynchon 3). Science was not only interesting to Pynchon; it was an interest of the culture of the sixties and seventies. The expansion of the space program in the sixties as well as the voyager programs of the seventies placed heavy emphasis on space and exploration. Emphasis on technological advancement and the increased use of mathematics also became prominent interests in these eras, which led to a common theme to many of Pynchon’s...
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...Thomas Paine was born in England, on January twenty-ninth, 1737, the son of a poor Quaker, farmer and corset maker. He attended a local school for a short amount of time at a basic education level, at the age of thirteen, he was forced to withdraw in order to start working. At first he started as an apprentice for his father and worked for him for a short time, but he could not accept his job so he decide to look elsewhere. He went to sea for a short while at, lived in a variety of places, and he tried vast number of different jobs. In just a few years he served as an excise man in Lincolnshire, followed by a stint as a school teacher in London, he then again settled down in 1768 as an excise officer in Lewes in East Sussex. He also managed a small shop for a few years. He married his first wife, then she died only after a year of marriage. In 1771 he married again. The marriage only lasted about three years after he got legally separated. He had no children in either of his marriages, and the marriages never brought him any happiness. He was also active in local affairs, serving on the town council and establishing a debating club at a local tavern. He tried working also as a shopkeeper, however, in that he was a failure. In April 1774, he was discharged from his duties for having absented himself from his post without leave. He settled in Philadelphia where he started his career as a journalist. He wrote many articles, one of which was a short pamphlet, Common Sense. Thomas...
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