Human intellect

Question 1

Brain

Answer 1

The relationship between brain and the mind(intellect) is that of a physical organ at the service of spiritual power

Question 2

Independence of the mind

Answer 2

The mind is the rational part of a person while the brain is the physical or biological component.

Question 3

Characteristics of a rational being

Answer 3

Can think 
Can make personal decisions 
Somaticity- thinking being with a body 
Transcended 
Spirituality

Question 4

Object of the intellect

Answer 4

Truth is something principally attributed to judgements of our understanding
Reality is the validating factor in truth
Intellect enables one to understand reality, and the more the grasp of reality the more intelligent is the person

Question 5

Proof for existence of intellectual knowledge

Answer 5

Man has ideas of goodness, of virtue, sport, work, society which do not refer to anything material or concrete but something universal and abstract .
Capacity to judge and reason (we get science whereby man knows how to coordinate his knowledge in systematic form)

Question 6

Process of understanding

Answer 6

Abstraction
Judgement
Reasoning

Question 7

Abstraction

Answer 7

It is the formation of concepts of ideas.
Concepts are devoid of any materiality
Numbers are abstract concepts
Language is an expression of concepts and not the other way round

Question 8

Application of concepts

Answer 8

Universally- all men
Particularity – these or some men
Singularly – this man

Question 9

Judgement

Answer 9

In a judgement we compose or divide according to the real union of things and we affirm something is or isnot
A judgement is noted by a subject and predicate
We combine concepts

Question 10

Reason

Answer 10

It is the movement of the mind whereby starting with several judgements which we relate to one another, we arrive at a new judgement which necessarily follows from the preceding ones eg through syllogism

Question 11

Knowledge

Answer 11

In the act of understanding there is a certain possession of the known (the object) by the senses and the mind
Knowledge is the possession of the known by the knower

Question 12

Sensitive knowledge

Answer 12

Is the knowledge of the senses
My eyes possess color
Each of the senses possess some knowledge

Question 13

Conceptual knowledge

Answer 13

Concept- interior representation of the thing/being and is possessed in the mind
In this knowlegde idea is formed
Idea- is an interior sign-word – of the being experinced
Intelligence- the capacity to produce ideas

Question 14

Reflexive knowledge (consciousness)

Answer 14

Man is the only being who knows and can know that he knows.
Man is aware about the thought process
Reflexive is a way of attaining truth

Question 15

Truth

Answer 15

Truth is the conformance of the mind with reality-the beginning point of the reflexive process is reality. Truth expresses reality faithfully

Question 16

Types of truth

Answer 16

Logical - Truth in the mind

Ontological - Reality

Question 17

Logical truth

Answer 17

The conformity of the intellect to things, conforming itself to that which they are, is logical truth or truth of the mind, for which we say that the mind is true.
The logical truth in my mind agrees with reality

Question 18

Ontological truth

Answer 18

Ontological truth is the conformity of some beings to some intelligence. It is important to state that this type of truth does not depend on the fact that they be known. It should conform to the mind of the creator.
Ontological truth is truth outside the subject, i.e. objective truth.

Question 19

Immateriality of the intellect

Answer 19

The actions which my mind performs are not material. The process of abstraction, judgment and reasoning are not physical actions.
The thinking process is limitless. One cannot reach the end of thinking, neither can one say he knows enough and the mind is full of concepts
The perceived object is immaterial (nature of object)
Can deny things it perceives – through reflection

Question 20

Intelligence Quotient IQ

Answer 20

refers to the capacity of an individual to abstract and read into the nature of things, including his ability to analyze ideas.

Question 21

Emotional intelligence

Answer 21

Refers to competence to identify and express emotions , understand emotions, assimilate emotions in thought and regulate both positive and negative emotions in the self and others
Roles- think in the right way
- understand others, reason with others, network with others

A person with emotional intelligence is able not only to think in the right way, but is able to understand others (empathetic), can feel what they feel, can reason with others and can use this in making decisions which are mutually beneficial to all.

Question 22

Emotional intelligence entails four aspects:

Answer 22

identification of emotions

ii) reflection on these emotions and how they impact thinking and relating with others
iii) monitoring emotions
iv) management of emotions through appraisal and expression of emotions in the right way.

Question 23

Trends about truth

Answer 23

People who tend to relativize truth can say that truth is an individual matter (liberalism), truth depends on what society defines truth to be (social constructivism), truth depends on the structures (structuralism) or truth comes from within and the categories I have (immanentism).

Question 24

Current trends on truth and its objectivity

Answer 24

Debate since Rene Descartes ‘ i think therefore i am’
Truth as a fad which changes with time
Truth as social construct
Truth as individual take