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Bonaventure On Specifics and Generalities - College Essays

Bonaventure On Specifics and Generalities

In order to comprehend the world at large, the human intellect relies on reason, hypothesis, and definition. Bonaventure asserts that the human mind defines things only by proceeding from specifics to generalities. Each term to be defined would be explained by comparing it to something else or by placing that term within a broader category of reference. In order to arrive at a pure and good definition, the mind must continually propose increasingly more general frames of reference. However, if the last and final frame of reference for a term is unknown, then it is impossible to truly know what something is. Without knowledge of the most general terms, knowledge of the specific becomes ...

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a definition of something based on its relationship to something else, or based on its form and function. However, these are limited ways of defining things; they do not account for the final, ultimate generality.
This final and ultimate generality provides the archetype of all things on earth: it is the perfect form of things. Consequently, the minutest item is comprised of this perfect being. In order to define things more comprehensively, therefore, we must eventually be aware of and able to understand this perfect being. Because the nature of a definition is to arrive at higher levels of generalizations, a true definition must contain this ultimate reference to the life force. Any item can therefore be understood, defined, and known as a function or extension of the life ...

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 2/17/2016 07:03:18 AM
Category: Miscellaneous
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 329
Pages: 2

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