Meri Pearson
Directed Writing 4
In order to understand life as a whole,
three important concepts need to be understood. Without these three principles,
it's hard to prove the fact that we exist as humans. The first fact accepting
the fact that human do really exist. No one can deny the fact that everyone
here on earth, actually exists because otherwise this life would be just a
mirage. Another basic principle that needs to be talked about it the principle
of non-contradiction. What this is saying, is that by not contradicting ones
thoughts, if a statement can be contradicted it isn't the truth it will make it
clearer, and more of a known what the realization is. The last thing to take
into account is the idea of the mind already knowing the truth. Another way to
explain this is the basic instinct of knowing. Everyone is born with the
ability to know, it is the natural born gift. Through these aspects, of
knowing, it can be inferred that these points are all important to the human
function. Evidence of the principle of non-contradiction, and the first
condition, can be found in the Chapter VII in St. Thomas Aquinas. In St. Thomas
Aquinas, he brings up the subject of "the truth of reason is not in opposition
to the truth of the Christian faith." This is the subject in which will be
discussed.
The first principle of knowing is the
non-contradictory principle. St. Thomas Aquinas says in chapter VII, "Consequently
whatever is contrary to these principles is contrary to the divine Wisdom;
wherefore it cannot be from God. Therefore those things which are received by
faith from divine revelation cannot be contrary to our natural knowledge." What
he is trying to say here is that, the truth is the truth because otherwise, it
would not be true. Furthermore, this is describing the idea of that if a
statement can be contradicted then it was not a true statement to begin with. Aquinas
goes on saying that "our intellect is stayed by contrary arguments, so that it
cannot advance to the knowledge of truth." What he is saying is that, contrary argument
just starts the process of the ways of knowing. It creates the thinking process
in order to prove that something is true in all of its being. Basically, if a
statement can be contradicted, it is not the truth to begin with. This is
because, it will create doubt, and uncertainty and go against the other
principles.
Another point that Aquinas brings up is the
act of knowing the truth. "Now the knowledge of naturally known principles is
instilled into us by God, since God Himself is the author of our nature." What
Aquinas is saying is that, with the first condition, which is the mind's
ability to understand the truth that this thought process came from God. A
Christian would say that God is the ultimate being, in which creates humans in
his eyes, therefore, when the question of where truth comes, the answer is from
God. This is the same principle in which St. Thomas Aquinas believed in. The
way of knowing, and making a conclusion of anything that is being questioned is
given to the thinker by God. This might be a harder concept for some to grasp,
not being a Christian, but all could say, that they are made up with the idea
of knowing, and the knowledge which comes along with it. Humans are born with
this, and it is just a natural gift in which all posses. The easiest way of saying it, is that it is a
natural knowledge. Everyone has this part in their brain in which decides what
is fact or fiction, whether something is wrong or right, or if something is
good or bad. Every person on this planet posses this knowledge, and it is
something in which happens at birth. St. Thomas Aquinas, says that this way of
truth, is given by God, so does many Americans, including this reader. The fact,
in which humans are born with this ability to decide, and decipher, is
something bigger than just this world itself. It is definitely ability given
from above.
Through all of this, St. Thomas Aquinas
ends off this chapter with these words. "From this we may evidently conclude
that whatever arguments are alleged against the teachings of faith, they do not
rightly proceed from the first self0evident principles instilled by nature."
Through the principle of non-contradiction, and the idea of knowing the truth
since birth, have created the building blocks of the ways of knowing. The ways
of knowing reaches out to everyone, whether it be Christians, atheist and
alike, the ways of knowing, are universal, and in order to be considered truth,
it has to go through these principles.
