Download Marco Trivellato - Professor Dugan - PHI 101 ISL - Due date 05

Marco Trivellato - Professor Dugan - PHI 101 ISL - Due date 05-10-2016
Final Essay
1. During the semester, we went through four major eras of philosophy. First ther was the Ancient era, one of the most important
philosophers of this era was Plato, with his idea about forms. For him, in order to understand the truth, you need to understand
forms; they are objectively real, eternal, abstract entities that serve as models or universals of higher knowledge. Idealism is the
perfect world. Everyday I wake up dreaming about a better world; That reminds me to think about decisions, and try my best to
make my existence worth more. Next, we talked about the medieval era. In the this era, the most powerful trend was the rise of
Christianity; from a banned cult to the official state religion, they began to dominate the political and intellectual life of the Roman
Empire. For this reason, philosophy had to answer to religion. Thomas Aquinas, developed his philosophy during this era. He
argued that reason can be used to prove the existence of God. However, only through faith can people know such mysteries as the
incarnation and the trinity. Aquinas’s ideas about the existence of God, made me think about that. There are still things that are not
understandable to humans. So there must be something or someone that makes these things happen. During the modern era,
philosophy focused on pragmatism, idealism and the discovery of political philosophy; John Stuart Mill was famous because of his
principle of utility. He believed that right actions are those that result in a greater, overall well-being (or utility), for the people
involved than any other possible actions. Another important philophers in this era was Descartes. His answer about existence
inspires me everyday: “I think, therefore I am.” It is the first principle by which he can acquire knowledge. In this statement, he
states that human beings are rational beings,since they are able to think. Through thinking, people make their own choices
everyday. These choices make them who they are, as my choices have shaped who I am. The Contemporary era began with the
professionalization of discipline, and the rise of analytic and continental philosophy. An important philosopher in this period was
Appiah. He was known for his theory ”cosmopolitanism.” Cosmopolitanism is the idea that we have moral duties to all persons,
even those outside our family and community. Nowadays, they’re mentioning this theory on the news. However, it seems
unsolvable because of people’s behavior.
2. Logic, Metaphysics, Epistmology and Ethics can be easily related to the human person in more than one way. Each person is
able to develop their own philosophy of life; whether it is consciously or unconsciously, they choose how they want to live. He or
she is also guided by philosophical assumpitions. Philosophy helps us answer the big questions that our lives present. Philosophy
can help people solve their problems through reasoning. It can also lead us to the right behavior (ethics). It also help us to
communicate with other people. Philosophy through these approaches drives people’s lives everyday. Descartes for example
defined himself a human being with his famous statement “I think, therefore I am.” Every philosopher, before and after him, tried to
give a definition of human being through Ethics, Logic, Metaphysics and Epistemology. There is not a definition of human being.
Philosophy leads to different and personal interpretations. However, I believe that this theory makes more sense to me. Human
beings are rational beings, who are able to make decisions,that define who they are.
3. Metaphysics is the study of reality in the deepest sense, questions into the elemental nature of the universe, and the objects in
it. Epistemology is the philosophical study of knowledge. It questions what knowledge is;and if through knowledge, are people able
to understand the empirical world. Ethics is the study of morality using the methods of philosophy. It raises questions regarding
what makes an object moral or not. Justice theories talk about fairness for everybody. Unfortunately, injustice is still present today.
However, I believe that through people’s actions, we have potential to reduce this unfairness, and reach the ideal world that Plato
imagined.
4 “Summa Theologica” was an important collection by Thomas Aquinas. He explained that through reason, one can prove the
existence of God. He supported this though through his five ways. These five ways explained how the existence of God can be
proven through cosmological arguments. A cosmological argument is an argument that reasons from the existence of the universe,
or cosmos, to the conclusion that God exists. The first step he made was the Argument of Notion- the belief that what is moving, is
only moving because something or someone made it do that. He pointed out that the creation of the universe was by God’s
handiwork. Because it is the universe, it has already been created, and proves to exist. The second way was the belief that
something cannot exist before it is created, which in a way is understandable. Anything cannot just exist; someone needs to make
it. This is stated through the nature of the efficient cause. The third way he argued was the argument from Possibility and
Necessity. He stated that we find in nature things that are possible; to be and not to be, that come into being and go out of being
such as contingent beings. There is a time for each contingent being, in which they do not exist. Therefore at that time, there would
have been nothing to bring the currently existing contingent beings into existence. Some being for their own necessity are not
created from another being; instead they cause them (God). The fourth way was argument from Gradation of Being. Aquinas
stated that there is a gradation to be found in things, and that some are better than others, and vice versa. In addition, he said
there must also be something which belongs to all beings, that being the cause of their own being. This being would be goodness,
and every other perfection (God). The fifth and last way was Argument from Design. Natural bodies work toward some goal, and
do not do so by chance. God is the one who directs all the things to their ends. These five ways explained the existence of God
through rationalism.
Good noon Professor.
I hope everything is doing well to you. Here there is my last essay. Hopefully I will see you before leaving. Thank you for your help
over this semester. Have a great summer.
Marco Trivellato