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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 5 page paper which examines the theories of
Aquinas and Descartes in regards to knowledge, or knowing things. Bibliography lists 4
sources.
Page Count:
5 pages (~225 words per page)
File: JR7_RAaqudes.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
and Descartes were just two of many philosophers who possessed theories which focused on our knowledge. In the following paper we examine the two philosophers individually and then present a
brief discussion of the two mens theories. Aquinas Aquinas theories were those which directly related to faith and reason. Like Descartes, he was a follower of Rationalism but
he was also a believer in faith, or religious faith. "So, what do we mean by religious faith? St Thomas Aquinas argued that it lay somewhere between knowledge and opinion"
(Philosophy). Aquinas believed that "knowledge was beyond doubt, whilst opinion was a matter of choice. From this point of view the most certain things are logically necessary propositions - such
as that A is A or 2+2=4" (Philosophy). It is interesting to note, however, that Aquinas also saw faith, as well as reason, as ways of knowing, or obtaining
knowledge. "Reason covers what we can know by experience and logic alone. From reason, we can know that there is a God and that there is only one God; these
truths about God are accessible to anyone by experience and logic alone, apart from any special revelation from God" (Religion A4: Aquinas - Faith and Reason). In relationship to Faith
we note that it "covers what we can know by Gods special revelation to us (which comes through the Bible and Christian Tradition). By faith, we can know that God
came into the world through Jesus Christ and that God is triune (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). These truths about God cannot be known by reason alone" (Religion A4: Aquinas
- Faith and Reason). At the same time we see how faith builds on reason, a thought that many religious individuals did not follow for they felt that reason would
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