Final Exam Prep Flashcards
Aristotle’s universe has no need and no place for any concept of _____, ______ in which bodies are placed, but only for ____
space, empty space, place
Space is a ______ being, a mental construct of __________ construction, which cannot exist in a real being. However, it does have a _________________________
mental, mathematical, valid foundation in the real world
Why is space a mental being?
It is devoid of action, a key criterion of a real being
Can time be only a subjective movement of our human consciousness (Einstein)?
No
What has gone wrong with such a view?
take a static mathematical abstraction and mistakes it for an adequate model of existing dynamic reality
The Principle of Causality works in that (1) every being must have the sufficient reason (_____________________) for its own real existence ___________________ (if in ____, no further questions), and (2) if in another then it must have its sufficient reason in another, something else in the order of real being.
the adequate grounding of its intelligibility, in itself or in another, itself
What are Aquinas’ 5 proofs (summarized)?
Motion
Nature of efficient causes
Possible and the necessary
Gradation
Governance of things
Modern scientists might deny final causation because it is __________ to __________________ the final cause at work until _______________
impossible, observe empirically, the effect is produced
What are the principle metaphysical problems raised by the scientific theory of emergent evolution?
The metaphysical problem comes from upholding the Principle of Sufficient Reason.
How can evolution be occurring while also upholding that no effect is greater than its cause? Is there intervention from a higher cause? And if such is needed, from what source does it come?
Reductive materialism states that higher levels of beings are __________________, without any new intrinsic unities with qualitatively new properties.
just new collections of lower level elements now in a new combination
Reductive materialism does not address _________ that we see come about through evolution.
more complex beings
Emergentism: (of the 20th century) states that higher beings _______________-
emerge from the lower with no further cause needed
Emergentism does not uphold the ____________
Principle of Sufficient Reason
Naturalism: states that nature is _____ and has everything within it from the beginning of creation to evolve into what we have now.
self-sufficient
Naturalism addresses _________ in evolution but not ____________
small steps, big steps
What is the Thomistic view on evolution?
Creation of the material world by God is an ongoing process, not just a one-time event
Beauty as a transcendental is defined as _________________________
that which when contemplated gives delight
Beauty as a transcendental applies to ____________________ (in other properties, it applies to _____________).
both the intellect and the will; just one or the other
The defining characteristics of beauty are ____________
Unity
Harmony
Splendor/radiance.
Why should beauty be included in the transcendentals?
1) every being must have inner coherence of unity and harmony and shine forth with a certain splendor and
2) it is different from being a type of good because it is irreducible from anything else we experience. It is special/unique.
The objective ground of the good in the relative order is ___________________
The objective ground of the good in the __________
that which fulfills in some significant way its own natural potentialities; absolute order
what is the basic meaning of good?
that which is in some way loveable
what is the more full definition of good?
a being is good if it possesses some positive quality that renders it apt or worthy to be valued by some valuer
a being is good if it possesses some _________ that renders it ______________ by some valuer
positive quality, apt or worthy to be valued
The good appears as the ________ in being to our _______________ of desiring/loving/valuing/admiring. The relational aspect means that it needs to be ___________________ than it in itself without reference to anything else (_________________)
objective correlate, subjective inner dynamism, good for something , this would be a mode of being or perfection
Simplicity
-God as the ________-; no body moves itself without itself being moved (there was no other mover to make God)
-________________
-It is impossible for _____ to be in God, as there is _______________
-God is not only His _________________
-first mover
-actuality/potentiality
-no potentiality in God
-essence but His existence
in regarding to immutability:
no potentiality in God; only actuality
