Greg Watson's Blog, page 2
May 24, 2020
An Encouraging Song From Andrae Crouch
This is encouraging song from the late Andrae Crouch. Hope everyone is having good weekend,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=395Ci...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=395Ci...
May 16, 2020
Differences Between British, American, and Australian English
This is an entertaining video about differences between British, American, and Australian English,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66aG5...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66aG5...
May 10, 2020
Happy Mother's Day!
Wishing all of the Goodreads moms a happy Mother's Day!
May 9, 2020
Little Richard -- Gone But Remembered
Singer Little Richard passed away. He was such a huge talent. This is one of my favorites from him,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJW-X...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJW-X...
April 19, 2020
Review of Book I -- Thomas Aquinas -- Commentary on Aristotle's Metaphysics
In Book I of Commentary on Aristotle's Metaphysics, Aquinas (following Aristotle's text) provides an overview of the beginnings of philosophy. He covers the various views of early philosophers regarding what is the "principle of all things." Additionally, Aquinas comments and expands on Aristotle's critique of Plato's theory of Ideas or Forms.
Aquinas remarks on the ideas of Thales (620-546 B.C.), who held that "water is the first principle of all things." He also mentions Diogenes (5th century B.C.) and Anaximenes (5th century B.C.), "who held that air is the principle of things." Furthermore, he considers the ideas of Empedocles (494-424 B.C.), who maintained that air, fire, water, and earth "are the principles of things." Anaxagoras (510-428 B.C.) agreed with Empedocles, "but also claimed that all things having like parts, such as flesh, bones, marrow and so forth, whose smallest parts are infinite in number, are the principles of things."
Following a discussion of these philosophers, Aquinas begins to address early thoughts on the idea of first cause in philosophy. Parmenides (5th century B.C.) came the closest in arguing that "there are many causes, one of which would be a mover and the others something moved."
Before addressing Plato, Aquinas continues his commentary on Aristotle to discuss the ideas of Pythagoras (570-495 B.C.). The Pythagoreans "thought that the principles of numbers are the principle of all existing things, and they said that the whole heaven is merely a kind of nature and harmony of numbers." In keeping with this, Aristotle remarks that the Pythagoreans held that "the bodies which move in the heavens are ten in number; but as only nine are observable they therefore invented a tenth, the counter-earth."
In the concluding portions of Book I, Aquinas reiterates and elaborates on Aristotle's critique of Plato's theory of Ideas or Forms. Plato argued that what we perceive in reality is only a copy of a form or ideal existing in an eternal realm. Aristotle argued against this idea as an unnecessary layer of abstraction and one that didn't logically follow philosophically.
Aquinas agrees with Aristotle in rejecting Plato's idea of the Forms. However, in place of Plato's forms existing in an eternal realm, Aquinas argues the following:
"God's knowledge is the exemplar of all things. For since things in the physical world are naturally inclined to induce their likeness in things which are generated, this inclination must be traced back to some directing principle which ordains each thing to its end. This can only be the intellect of that being who knows the end and the relationship of things to the end."
Book I also introduces one of the most challenging questions in philosophy or that of innate knowledge we are born with versus acquired knowledge we learn. It appears that Plato held to the idea of innate knowledge. Aristotle and Aquinas rejected this and argued in favor of a person "comes to know, but only of certain other things through which he becomes instructed." Acquired knowledge makes sense in terms of a body of knowledge, but innate knowledge seems more reasonable from a sense of right from wrong. Perhaps Aquinas addresses this elsewhere in his writings.
Aquinas remarks on the ideas of Thales (620-546 B.C.), who held that "water is the first principle of all things." He also mentions Diogenes (5th century B.C.) and Anaximenes (5th century B.C.), "who held that air is the principle of things." Furthermore, he considers the ideas of Empedocles (494-424 B.C.), who maintained that air, fire, water, and earth "are the principles of things." Anaxagoras (510-428 B.C.) agreed with Empedocles, "but also claimed that all things having like parts, such as flesh, bones, marrow and so forth, whose smallest parts are infinite in number, are the principles of things."
Following a discussion of these philosophers, Aquinas begins to address early thoughts on the idea of first cause in philosophy. Parmenides (5th century B.C.) came the closest in arguing that "there are many causes, one of which would be a mover and the others something moved."
Before addressing Plato, Aquinas continues his commentary on Aristotle to discuss the ideas of Pythagoras (570-495 B.C.). The Pythagoreans "thought that the principles of numbers are the principle of all existing things, and they said that the whole heaven is merely a kind of nature and harmony of numbers." In keeping with this, Aristotle remarks that the Pythagoreans held that "the bodies which move in the heavens are ten in number; but as only nine are observable they therefore invented a tenth, the counter-earth."
In the concluding portions of Book I, Aquinas reiterates and elaborates on Aristotle's critique of Plato's theory of Ideas or Forms. Plato argued that what we perceive in reality is only a copy of a form or ideal existing in an eternal realm. Aristotle argued against this idea as an unnecessary layer of abstraction and one that didn't logically follow philosophically.
Aquinas agrees with Aristotle in rejecting Plato's idea of the Forms. However, in place of Plato's forms existing in an eternal realm, Aquinas argues the following:
"God's knowledge is the exemplar of all things. For since things in the physical world are naturally inclined to induce their likeness in things which are generated, this inclination must be traced back to some directing principle which ordains each thing to its end. This can only be the intellect of that being who knows the end and the relationship of things to the end."
Book I also introduces one of the most challenging questions in philosophy or that of innate knowledge we are born with versus acquired knowledge we learn. It appears that Plato held to the idea of innate knowledge. Aristotle and Aquinas rejected this and argued in favor of a person "comes to know, but only of certain other things through which he becomes instructed." Acquired knowledge makes sense in terms of a body of knowledge, but innate knowledge seems more reasonable from a sense of right from wrong. Perhaps Aquinas addresses this elsewhere in his writings.
March 31, 2020
My Novel is Free to Download on Amazon
Hope everyone is safe and sound at home. It is, no kidding, a scary time. It is a reminder of how fragile our existence is.
My novel It Could Happen Here is available as a free download on Amazon. Along with suspense, the novel contains (I hope) a reassuring Christian message.
My novel It Could Happen Here is available as a free download on Amazon. Along with suspense, the novel contains (I hope) a reassuring Christian message.
February 15, 2020
Hijab Guitarist
I have enjoyed listening to Mel -- a 22 year old Indonesian guitarist. She reminds me of what an explosive guitar player I can be, playing air guitar that is. :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHi3T...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHi3T...
February 14, 2020
Happy Valentine's Day to All of The Women of Goodreads
Happy Valentine's Day to all the bookish and beautiful women of Goodreads. Have a wonderful reading day!
December 31, 2019
Download My Novel For Free
My novel It Could Happen Here is once again available to download on Amazon. This golden opportunity only comes around once every 90 days. Seriously though, thank you to everyone who has read the book or added it.
Wishing everyone a happy year of reading in 2020.
-Greg
Wishing everyone a happy year of reading in 2020.
-Greg
December 6, 2019
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