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This essay seeks to explain the problem of faith and reason, Aquinas solution to the problem of faith and reason and Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas
The distinction between faith and reason is one that explains the occurrence of things that can be explained and those that can not be explained. According to Aquinas, faith shows that one has theological reason that exceeds human reason. Aquinas explained that one can know the truth, but without faith it is termed as a half truth. However, the distinction between these terms remains controversial to many philosophers. This essay seeks to explain the problem of faith and reason, Aquinas’ solution to the problem of faith and reason and Aquinas’ solution to this problem.
The main issue about faith and believe is that one can seek the truth and not believe in it and yet the vice versa is not true. Aquinas describes reason and faith as ways of acquiring knowledge. Reason is what we know by through experience and logic. Thomas believes that it is possible to have basic knowledge about God without any explicit revelation. This means that all people could gain knowledge about God through reason. Faith is what we know through the revelations of God. Through faith, we can explain the existence of God. Wit is required to use both reason and logic for this to be acknowledged as a full truth. This is described by Aquinas as the “two fold truth”. Faith believes in things that can not be explained by logic reason. The question is why there is need for two truths. Why is one truth not enough? If God is able to offer supernatural explanations for all that happens, why is there need for one to have faith? Faith builds on reason since both are ways of realizing the truth. Let us now see how Aquinas addresses this issue of faith and reason.
Other great philosophers sought to develop a universal method of reasoning where one could learn all they needed to know about reality. Aquinas had no contradiction to this type of reasoning when it came to religious matters. He agreed with the fact that it was possible for one to learn about the teachings of God by faith and this was indeed the best way. He also went on to add that theology would be more accepted if its teachings were combined with reason to back up its claims. Theology is a science that can not survive without the incorporation of theoretical knowledge. In his explanation of faith and reason, Aquinas sort to give a distinction between theology and philosophy. A believer will only consider creatures as they were created by God while philosophers will consider creatures and what belongs to their nature. In explaining the theory of creation, a believer will accept the notion that all things are God’s creations. A believer will seek to explain all things that do not have a specific way of how they happened as the work of God. A philosopher on the other hand will seek how it happened and the reason as to why it happened. The question that remains is; are philosophers trying to question the existence of God by seeking reason for things that are only known to man by faith? Is it possible for one to only use faith as a source of knowledge without applying reason? Aquinas attempts to explain the reason why some things are in motion. If there is some thing moving, then it is put in motion by another thing. The series of movers can not be infinitely traced so there has to be a first mover who is God. Aquinas dedicated his thoughts by using nature to explain the existence of God.
In order to better explain faith and reason, let us take an example of the most controversial teaching in the Bible; the story of creation. In the first book of the Bible, it is indicated that God is the creator of all things. Through faith, most people who believe in God take this statement as true without any reasonable doubt. It is because they have acquired this knowledge through faith and not through reason. There are no concrete facts to back up this claim yet the theory of creation has been accepted by all believers as the work of God. Not all people believe that knowledge should only be acquired through faith. This is why other people including scientists have their own theory that seeks to explain the beginning of the world. In most cases theological and scientific theories have clashed in the effort to explain this phenomenon. Scientists claim that the theological theory does not have any basis. You get the information, but answers to questions as to how and why it happened can not be provided. There is only one ultimate answer to all those questions which is God is the creator and the knowledge of man can not be compared to the knowledge of man. It is not possible for us to understand the way of thinking of God so that w can know how he created the world. This only goes to show that, God’s teachings can only be understood and explained through faith and not reason. There is no way of explaining things that are only known by faith. However, according to Aquinas it is possible to acquire knowledge about the teachings of God through reason, but one will not learn the full truth without faith.
Conclusively, Aquinas believes that using only reason to gain knowledge about God is considered a half truth. One needs to incorporate both reason and faith so as to fully understand God’s teachings. It is true that one can gain knowledge about God through reason, however knowledge through faith is considered the best way. In trying to bring together the correlation between faith and reason, Aquinas’ explanation made them seem very distinct.
This essay compares and contrasts our (ALI and I) similarities and differences.
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Friendship Essay
My best friend Ali and I are virtually brothers. We have been friends since we were six years old. We met in kindergarten when he rescued me from a mean bully. From then on, we became inseparable. I liked Ali from the very go because of his jolliness, kindness, and playfulness. Before I knew Ali, I did not have many friends because I was quiet and kept to myself all the time. Ali was talkative and within no time after I met him I had a crowd of friends. One thing that amuses me is that our friendship has thrived for several years, yet our personalities are completely different. This essay compares and contrasts our similarities and differences.
Ali is a talkative extroverted person. He blends easily into crowds and is the life of every party he attends. In contrast, I am quiet and introverted. I am anxious when I am in crowds and I am a party pooper. If it wasn’t for Ali’s nudging, I would have attended countable parties. Our opposite personalities are the cornerstone of our friendship. Ali gets over excited easily and can do things that can get him into trouble. When that happens, I become his voice of reason and restrain him from over-indulgence. On the other hand, I can lose interest quickly and fail to enjoy myself. When that happens, Ali becomes my voice of encouragement and urges me to lose my inhibitions. We have been able to build each other as I have acquired Ali’s best qualities and he has acquired my best qualities.
Ali and I are both very enthusiastic about class work. When we were little we loved to play and we sometimes engaged in mischievous games at the expense of schoolwork. Our parents called us and drilled into us the importance of education. When we reached elementary school, they drafted timetables for us to balance study and play time. Both of us are very passionate about academic excellence. Even when we have fallen out and are not on speaking terms, we always study together. Our passion for academic studies is the single most important quality we share. However, I am more focused than Ali when it comes to school work. Because of his active social life, he tends to drift and sometimes does not show up at study time. I usually call him and convince him to show up immediately.
Ali’s generosity and kindness is legendary. As I have mentioned above, we became friends when he rescued me from a bully. He is highly empathetic and cannot let anyone suffer when he is present. He goes out of his way to help people, including beggars and the homeless. He derives happiness from helping others. I am not selfish, but I am not inclined to help strangers. I only help people from my circle of friends and relatives. I let other people mind their own business. Whenever I reprimand myself for being mean, Ali tells me not to be too hard on myself as some things are inborn.
Ali is the pillar of my life. My life would be empty without him. I have shared my best and worst moments with him. He has also shared my best and worst moments with me. Most people are shocked when they find out that we are friends because our personalities are as different as day and night. He is very liberal and I am very conservative. Our differences have not prevented us from sharing one of the best friendships in the world. I hope that our bond will continue to grow and that it will be shared by our descendants.
Lodging and Resort Operations
Lodging and Resort Operations
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Question 1
Hotel security departments range from a solitary employee in some small hotels to as many as twenty or more people in large establishments or large properties. In larger properties, the security operates under the supervision of a director of security. In addition, in large properties, security departments include uniformed patrol personnel that is need seen in small and some medium properties. Contracted security is the business that seek a profit by offering a host security services to businesses, institutions, and other organizations. One major advantage of in-house security is that greater control is maintained over personnel, including selection, training, and supervision, and of course, such a force is more familiar with the unique needs of the company. The other advantage is that in in-house security, security is enhanced because staff is directly employed by the building owner or manager and so security is guaranteed and so this makes the difference. Furthermore, in in-house security, the staff is recruited, screened and selected using procedures and methods stipulated and controlled by the client. Once or twice I have been a guest at a lodging property where there was a security breech.
Question 2
The efficiency of executive housekeeper determines the effectiveness of the housekeeping function. It is a formal point for the dissemination of information and communication to various points in the housekeeping department as well as other departments. There are various conditions where clear communication is important between the front office and the executive housekeeper. Since the executive housekeep has a role in up keeping of the quest rooms and hotels’ public properties, the person has to work via other employees in seeing that the job is done. In such cases, where though the consultation and allocation of other employees, and the job remains undone, the executive housekeeper has a responsibility to conduct a clear communication. A clear communication is also needed at the point where the executive housekeeper is training other employees in cleaning techniques. It is the role of the executive housekeeper to train other housekeepers and so the need for clear communication. The scheduling of employees also need clear communication.
Question 3
Security is a major element in today’s world and a vital component in most organizations. Many credible institutions have strong and reliable security systems. As a director of security, to improve security while remaining within the budget, building entrances would be the best. Planning and design can improve the safety and requirements to do this should be incorporated into the brief. Crime on institution or organization’s properties normally takes place outside the working hours and the restriction of entrance and the check would thus reduce the rate. Whenever possible, commercial, service and delivery vehicles should have a designed entry point to the site, preferably away from high-risk buildings and this can only be controlled suppose the entry is controlled ad closely monitored. Active perimeter entries should also designated so that security personnel can maintain full control without creating unnecessary delays. This can be accomplished by the provision of a sufficient number of entry points to accommodate the peak flow of pedestrians and vehicular traffic, as well as adequate lightning for rapid and efficient inspection. Controlled entries further aids in the achievement of this. The number of access points into the site should be minimized because they are a potential source of weakness in the controlled perimeter and they are costly in construction and personnel (William, 2005).
Reference
William, W. (2005). Reorganizing for National Security and Homeland SecurityVolume 62, Issue 0, Pages: 126-137