Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Representative Sanctoral Sermons Of Saint Augustine, Michael J. Dunn

Bachelors’ Theses

The De Civitate Dei and many lesser philosophical works made Saint Augustine one of the greatest philosophers of the Christian era. His Confessiones make him one of the great devotional writers of all time. In addition to the facets of his character, Augustine exhibited a third side, that of him self as a churchman , a preacher and teacher.

The Positivism Of Auguste Comte, Michael J. Czernecki

Bachelors’ Theses

A man lives according to the philosophy of life he holds. There have been many philosophers of prominence that have been studied, read and quoted but few were as interesting as Comte. By his great diligence and thinking, Comte was driven to a mental unbalance but he recuperated to finish his work on a social reconstruction of the days after the French Revolution. He had a great idea, if it would only have worked out, but alas, his basic hypothesis was wrong and he had no verification for his opinions.

The title that was selected was done so with the …

A Comparison Of The Theories Of Aristotle And Of St. Thomas Aquinas, As Regards The Existence Of God, Edward M. Danaher

Bachelors’ Theses

The object of this thesis is to show, by means of the comparisons of the arguments of St. Thomas Aquinas and of Aristotle, as regards the existence of God, what manner of God exists. This I shall endeavor to do by stating the arguments of Aristotle and of St. Thomas Aquinas, and by presenting commentaries upon these theories. To substantiate their points, I shall give views regarding their theories, as expressed by other philosophers throughout the various ages.

Backgrounds Of The Declaration Of Independence And The Constitution In Catholic Philosophy, Joseph Edward Dean

Bachelors’ Theses

The system of representative government heralded in 1776 and conceived in 1787 by the Fathers of our country was never under such universal attack as it is at the present time. The attack is particularly insidious because it is led, not by champions of other tried and established forms of government, but by those who proclaim themselves to be the real saviors of democratic principles. The greatest danger to democracy in America is the woeful lack of interest in, and understanding of, the rights safeguarded for us by the Constitution of the United States of America. The fact that those …

The Ethics Of John Dewey, Edward W. Dooley

Bachelors’ Theses

John Dewey exerts a rather remarkable influence on contemporary American philosophy and education. To consider the background of thought that is responsible for Mr. Dewey's philosophy and to make a particular study of the ethical ideas arising from it is the purpose of this thesis.

A Translation Of St. Augustine's Dissertation On The Happy Life, Max L. Adamski

Bachelors’ Theses

It is the tendency of the present generation to be constantly striving for happiness and it would profit many to study the views of one, who for more than thirty years was striving in vain to find a perfectly satisfying happiness. The views of Augustine on a happy life after his conversion should be carefully analyzed by all who desire to reach their ultimate end in life -- the possession of God. In submitting a translation of this work of the Father of the est it has been the author's purpose to present the views of this interesting character on …

The Argument From Design, Eileen Q. Coakley

Bachelors’ Theses

The object of this thesis is to prove, by the Argument from Design, that God, the First Cause of all things, is an Intelligent Being. This is done by reasoning a posteriori, i.e. from the effects of order an harmony found in the universe to an intelligent cause of the order. To substantiate the argument I have given a short resume of the views held by philosophers throughout the various ages. I have then reviewed the argument itself which is based on the philosophy of St. Augustine and St. Thomas. And finally, since the argument has been bitterly assailed, …

Freedom Of The Will With Deterministic Opposition, R. Ward Dunphy

Bachelors’ Theses

In our thesis on freedom of the will it is necessary to select a meaning that will make the issue clear, unambiguous and sharply joined. Our discussion will be of no value if the term "freedom of the will" is not clearly understood. The method employed will be to define the term •freedom", the term "will" and then the combined issue "freedom of the will". The purpose of this form will be to clearly enunciate the terms of the proposition, thus offering a com non meeting ground for the discussion. "Freedom" is defined as an absence from any factor, the …

The Necessity Of Observing The Civil Law, Edward J. Brophy

Bachelors’ Theses

Everyone is bound to fulfill God's purpose according to the nature received. man has received an intellectual nature, of which free will is an essential part. He is bound to fulfill the Creator's purpose by understanding it. God's purpose in creating man was to attain the end of creation. The necessary means to attain man's last end is to do God's will, "observe order", it is the natural obligation of man and the first principle of the Natural Law.

Life Of Cicero Based On His Works, Elizabeth Frances Diedrich

Bachelors’ Theses

The biographies of' Cicero are nearly as numerour as his works. Most of these, however, are merely imitations of the first biographies ever written. It often appears that Cicero was a vain man because of his boasting manner. This, however, can be accounted for on the ground that he was a "novus homo" and accordingly was forced to remind the people of his great deed in order to keep them before their eyes. This boastful attitude, besides . serving his.purpose; aids us in discovering the events of the orator's life as found in his own works . Traces of his …

Optimism Versus Pessimism, James F. Chapman

Bachelors’ Theses

All that promotes success, welfare, or happiness is included in the ideal good. If human beings value their lives and the lives of others; take pride in development and progress-in short, if they consider life worth living, as good, as the best thing for them; they nay be called optimists.

Epicureanism In The Georgics, Ruth Agnes Crawford

Bachelors’ Theses

Vergil, the Latin poet who has had more influence on literature throughout the ages than any other Latin writer, was born in 70 B.C . He lived during the reign of Augustus Caesar, which was a time of peace and great prosperity. Augustus, in furtherance of his country's prosperity, encouraged literature and raised it to a standard previously unknown in Roman history. Vergil, then, wrote under very favorable circumstances. This era which produced so much culture fostered three philosophies which naturally influenced all the writers of the time. It is only reasonable to suppose that Vergil was affected by one …

Free Will Versus Determinism, Alfred Joseph Biagi

Bachelors’ Theses

Philosophy stretching down from the time of Thales its father, who lived in the sixth century B.C. has continuously grappled with problems of man and the universe. Almost from its very beginnings speculation arose over the question of human freedom -- resulting in the overlasting contest between determinist and libertarian -- a contest which is becoming more and more acute with the modern developments in physical and mental science.

Mysticism In The Metaphysical School Of Poets, Jessie Donaldson Corrigan

Bachelors’ Theses

In the desire to transcend the physical world, men of every age have set foot upon the "Mystic Way". This desire, which is a thing internal and intuitive, has been called the "instinct for transcendence." Once upon the mystic way, "the wistful eyes of Life are set towards a vision that is also a Home - a Home from which news can reach us now and again."

Influences That Went To The Making Of Edmund Burke In His Career As An Orator, James Crowley

Bachelors’ Theses

Edmund Burke looms before us through the mist of years as a prodigy of eloquence and knowledge; devoted to the good or his country; an unselfish and disinterested patriot; a sage whose moral wisdom shines far beyond his own generation and century. He was the most remarkable man who has taken part in public affairs, from the thrilling days of our Revolution down to the present time. The life and principles of so great, a man are a fascinating study to all admirers of the work he accomplished. If history has any interest or value, it is to show the …

The Will Of Man, Harris George Aschenbrener

Bachelors’ Theses

In the popular philosophy of today, namely Mat­eralistic Evolution, attempts have been made to explain everything as the result of the forces of "matter and motion". In rejecting all that the sages of old have offered towards the explanation of phenomena, there are certain problems which are stumbling blocks to this form of philosophy. Many and various theories have been offered but none has been found that will satisfy. Re­alizing their inability to explain these problems, one of their number has summed them up and termed them seven riddles for which science has no answer, and which will always remain …

A Comparative Study Of The Stoicism Of Seneca And Marcus Aurelius, Helen Caroline Boemer

Bachelors’ Theses

Socrates it was who taught men to think aright, to love knowledge and goodness, to realize the worth of friendship, courage and wisdom. To him as a consequence many subsequent philosophers went for their ideas. Hence after his death we find that many schools of philosophy came into existence. Besides the schools of Plato, Aristotle and Epicurus, there arose also the Cynic School of Antisthenes and the Megaric School of Euclid, all of which incorporated some of the fundamental doctrines of Socrates or contained elements of pre-Socratic systems, modified by the influence of their common master.

The Philosophy Of Herbert Spencer, Joseph B. Coleman

Bachelors’ Theses

It might be well at the beginning of this discussion on the philosophy of Herbert Spencer to give a brief biographical sketch concerning his earlier life.

He was born at Derby, England on the 27th of April, 1820. His father, William George Spencer, was a schoolmaster. The religious convictions of his parent familiarized him with the doctrines of the Methodists and Quakers. He declined an offer from his uncle to go to Cambridge and as a result, was practically self taught.

For a few years he was employed as an engineer and giving this up, he became sub- editor of …

The Human Will Is Free, Richard V. Carpenter

Bachelors’ Theses

The freedom of the will is one of the most important questions in philosophy. So much has been written on the subject that it hardly seems worth while to treat it in a thesis in which nothing can be said which has not already been said a number of times. The two opposing parties in the controversy have completed their respective cases; they have fully entrenched themselves behind volumes and volumes of weighty libraries and are now but waiting new recruits. As a matter of fact, though both sides of the debate seem to have exhausted their arguments, though they …