Faith, Reason, and Truth: A Philosophical Analysis
Main Lines of Thought
Faith and Reason
There is only one truth, and what is important in the life of a man is to reach the Truth. Try to see if that truth (God) can be reached through reason, not only by faith. Faith alone is sufficient for Christianity. Faith and reason can be complementary elements or independent. Reason: Philosophy. Faith: Theology.
The two concepts work together in a circular manner (there is not a rational man and a Christian man). Intelligence paves the way for faith, and faith is the light that leads intelligence (believing to understand). Together they discover the truth.
This approach to Reason and Faith will remain at the thought of all LAEDA media.
The Existence of God
As there is truth, and God is its foundation, God exists. Truths are immutable and eternal and can only be made by an immutable being (God is only). This has a relationship with the World of Ideas of Plato.
Body and Soul: Anthropology
Following the dualistic model, man is his soul that uses a mortal and earthly body. Man (after original sin) should receive external support, and his will is corrupt (grace). Evil comes from that damaged will (against the Socratic moral).
The soul is a rational and immortal substance.
Knowledge
The truth brings true happiness to man. Skeptics can be sure of something, that they doubt, which gives signs of existence (a clear later influence of Descartes).
Man can know the truth. In knowledge, three levels are distinguished:
- Sensory knowledge: Picks up objects and their modifications. It makes sense but is not true knowledge (deficiencies in directions).
- Rational knowledge: Makes judgments about objects and compares them to eternal models, the ideas (Platonic influence) from the divine lighting.
- Contemplation: It means seeing the eternal ideas without affecting feelings or judgments. It is achieved through enlightenment and reaches objective knowledge, truth, and true wisdom. The truth cannot be reached by experience.
Interiority
The starting point for seeking the truth is within man. Man has to look within. He finds that he has an unstable nature and senses. He discovers the eternal truths illuminated by God.
Ethics
Christian Morality
The purpose of life is happiness, and man finds it in God and the submission to the divine (Augustinian eudaimonism).
The ability of man to choose between good and bad is more likely a natural way to evil. He needs help from outside, grace, which gives real freedom to be human. Man has something inside slightly higher than him.
Evil
Evil is like human venality. God creates things that are good but not absolute, limited (God is absolute good). Evil is a privation of goodness. This exceeds Manichaeism and Greek dualism. Things created by God are good but limited. There are no bad things; evil occurs when man misuses his freedom of choice.
Policy
The state embodies true justice when it is a Christian state. Christianity makes men good citizens. Society is perfect when it is based on the principles of the Church.
There must be collaboration between Church and State. The power of the Pope should be above temporal power. This political theory will be apparent during the Middle Ages.
The City of God is his most important work. It builds the history of humanity on the basis of the struggle between two cities:
- Good: Represented by God.
- Evil: Represented by the earthly.
These two alternatives represent two ways of behaving, two attitudes (flesh and spirit), going back to Platonic dualism.