Homer's World View
1. Is there a God? What is He like? The gods are in charge and have the power to do anything. They are not necessarily good however. They do what they want, they are the rulers. They must be praised for everything so they do not become mad. They grant what they will and refrain from granting also.
2. What is the nature of the universe. it's origin and structure?
3. What is the essential nature of man? Man is mostly good and should be treated well, including wanderers and beggars. However some men did evil and where to be punished for their crimes.
4. What is the basis of morality and Ethics?
5. What is the cause of evil and suffering? The Gods are the cause of evil and suffering. There doing things in the world destroys nations and bring life out of balance.
6. What happens to man at death and then after? When a man dies he goes to Hades or the underworld. To enter, the man who died must be properly buried, otherwise he would roam the world. Life in Hades is not pleasant, it is better to break sod as a farm hand for some poor country man, on iron rations, than be lord over all the exhausted dead of the underworld. Hades a dark and gloomy place without joy. There men stay for eternity, there is no escape.
7. What is the meaning of history?
Socrates' World View
1. Is there a God? What is He like? According to Socrates the Greek gods were the gods. He emphasized that the they were good, partly because what they have created is good and also because if they were not good, they could not be gods. For gods can only be good. He also points out that they are the source of all wisdom and are involved in ways unknown. Many times in writings about him, he reefers to one of the gods as the god, this god is Apollo. Because the oracle of Delphi said that he was the only wise man he gained a new respect for Apollo, who’s oracle it was. In The Apology Socrates says, “I will refer you to a witness who is worthy of credit; that witness shall be the God of Delphi — he will tell you about my wisdom, if I have any, and of what sort it is.” He tried to prove the oracle wrong, but did not succeed.
2. What is the nature of the universe. it's origin and structure? Socrates believed that it was out there, but was not important. And that it was a waste of one time to study it, because man is more significant and the gods only care for them.
3. What is the essential nature of man? Socrates believed that man is a rational creature because he can reason and come to a good conclusion; because of this Socrates says that man’s nature is basically good. “Surely you consider it of the greatest importance that our young men be as good as possible?” (Apology, 24 d) Here Socrates asks Meletus if young men should be as good as possible, Meletus answers yes,
4. What is the basis of morality and Ethics? Socrates believed that to find out what was good a person had to use his reason. He had to seek for knowledge, because if one has knowledge of what is good, a person can know what is good. Socrates says in the Apology “that the most important thing is not life, but the good life...and that the good life, the beautiful life, and the just life are the same,” (Apology, 48 b)
5. What is the cause of evil and suffering? Socrates believed that the cause of it is ignorance of the good; people don’t know what is good. In the Apology Socrates says “Do not the wicked do some harm to those who are ever closest to them, whereas good people benefit them? -Certainly.” (Apology, 25 c) What Socrates means is evil people hurt people, even those closest to them because they don’t have knowledge of the good. While good people who have knowledge of the good because they are good, do not.
6. What happens to man at death and then after? Socrates believed that there was no need for man to fear death because only two things could happen. Either he’d have a long and dreamless sleep or he’d go to Hades were he could discuss with and learn from all that had ever lived. “There is good hope that death is a blessing, for it is one of two things: either the dead are nothing and have no perception of anything, or as we are told, a change and a relocating for the soul from here to another place.” (Apology, 40 c) Socrates was not afraid of death.7. What is the meaning of history? Socrates believed that the meaning of history was to get Knowledge, because a collected knowledge is better then ones own. “It is to fulfill some such function that I believe the god has places me in the city. I never cease to rouse each and every one of you, to persuade and reproach you all long and everywhere I find myself in your company.” (Apology, 30 e) Here Socrates says that the god must have put him in that city because he could help them find knowledge and truth, because he never quit.
Plato's World View
1. Is there a God? What is He like? Plato believed in the Greek gods, but his beliefs took him further then that. These gods were good, but not perfect, they were only shadows of another god, copies or imitations. These gods were imitations of the Demiurge who created all physical things, but he is not the true god either, he is only a shadow after many shadows of the Ideal god. The ideal god is perfect and eternal, pure reason. He can only create ideal things, nothing that is found in the physical realm. He needs no purpose, he has no purpose, he just is and by his mere existence, he creates shadows of himself that are not perfect. In his book The Republic he says, “The actions of the gods are good and just, and those they punish are benefited thereby.” (The Republic, line 380b) What the gods do can only be good, if a man is punished by them he deserves to be.
2. What is the nature of the universe. it's origin and structure? Plato said that the universe had two realms, the physical and the ideal. The ideal realm is eternal. The universe was not created by the ideal God (because he can only create ideal things) but by the Demiurge.. In the Timaeus Plato says that the Demiurge “Forms the things of this world according to the model of the Forms.” (Timaeus) This means that the Forms or Ideas exist apart. Plato then explains that this world and everything in it are shadow (like the Demiurge) of the Ideal realm and universe.
3. What is the essential nature of man? Plato believes that man is basically good, but is not perfect. The soul is perfect, but the body is not.
4. What is the basis of morality and Ethics? Plato believes that by reason one comes to know the good, but Plato says that all good comes from the ideal real and the way one comes to understand it is by his reason. The good of this world is only a shadow like everything else of the ideal world. The Re- public is the bar for morality and ethics.
5. What is the cause of evil and suffering? Plato believes that the cause of evil and suffering is ignorance, but of the ideal God and because he is in a imperfect world.
“In the knowable realm, the form of the good is the last thing to be seen, and it is reached only with difficulty. Once one has seen it, however, one must conclude that it is the cause of all that is correct and beautiful in anything, that it produces both light and its source in the visible realm, and that in the intelligible realm it controls and provides truth and understanding, so that anyone who is to act sensibly in private or public must see it.” (The Republic, line 517b-c)
So because man is in an imperfect world he must find that truth and understanding, so that he can act sensibly for all to see.
6. What happens to man at death and then after? Plato believed that when one died his body was dead, but his spirit went back to the ideal realm. On the way back the soul would go threw a time of purging and then be in the ideal realm for one thousand years before returning to the earth. Plato believed that the soul was eternal; this is why it could come back. The soul can become corrupt like the body and eventually die. When this happens, the body and soul separate and the soul becomes purging.
7. What is the meaning of history? Plato believed that the meaning of history was to help people remember the form; remember the ideal realm and the truth. Be- cause people would die, and forget everything, so when they came back to earth history is what teaches them to remember the forms.
Aristotle's World View
1. Is there a God? What is He like? Aristotle unlike his fellow philosophers did not believe in the Olympian gods. He believed in one god, that was eternal and good, he is known also as the Prime mover, because he put the universe into motion. He is also pure reason and is not perverted or bad, because he is eternal, and as Aristotle says in his book Metaphysics, “In eternal things, there is nothing bad, nothing defective, nothing perverted (for perversion is something bad).” (Metaph. 1051 a 20-1) Aristotle believed that nothing bad or corrupt could be eternal, therefore god must be good. He also pointed out that god is not a personal god, that he cared only for himself and nothing for the world because it is so much smaller then him.
2. What is the nature of the universe. it's origin and structure? Aristotle says that the universe is eternal like God, but not created by him. God gave it order and motion becoming known as the prime mover. Aristotle believed that the earth was the centre of the universe and revolved around God. Around the earth are layers, concentric and spherical made of water, air, and fire. Beyond these lie the heavenly spheres, the furthest being the stars com- posed of aether, which is the fifth and superior element.
3. What is the essential nature of man? Aristotle believes that man is basically good and not perfect that he is set apart form nature by reason. This spark of reason comes to them from God, making man like God because of his reason. Aristotle than says that “Every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim.” (Nicomachean Ethics, 1094 a 1-3) Here Aristotle is saying that every action or pursuit is aimed at the good, to do something good.
4. What is the basis of morality and Ethics? Aristotle, though a student of Plato’s does not believe that you need reason to know the good. He believed that all nature has a balancing point and that one should be balanced between both good and bad. A person should not be too good or too bad. To do this that person must be educated and understand nature to know how much good is good and how much bad is bad. In this section Aristotle explains that not having enough or too little of pain or pleasure is not good. Too much of one or the other can cause evil and suffering.
5. What is the cause of evil and suffering? Aristotle believes that ignorance is the cause of evil and suffering, but he says that it is ignorance of education, man must know that cause of things, the way nature works. This is the cause of evil and suffering.
6. What happens to man at death and then after? Aristotle unlike Socrates and Plato did not believe in a afterlife. He believed that when the body died the soul died and when the soul died the body died, because neither one could live without the other. So in Aristotle’s view there is nothing after death.
7. What is the meaning of history? Aristotle believed that the meaning of history was to get knowledge of nature, so that man can know the real world and what was out there.
St. Augustine's World View
1. Is there a God? What is He like? There is one all supreme God. Who is Perfect and eternal. He created the world and has been there from the beginning looking after it. As Augustine puts it in the City of God, “He is a standard of truth and the universe manifests His wisdom. God as the self-existent, eternal and immutable being, is infinite, and, as infinite, incomprehensible.”
2. What is the nature of the universe. it's origin and structure? The world was created simultaneously with time. With creation, motion and change began. There could have been no past time since there was nothing created by whose movements and change time could have been measured. God created everything out of nothing by the power of His word.
3. What is the essential nature of man? Man is created in the image of God and is composed of light and gross matter. The soul is light and the good principle, while the body is gross matter and the bad principle. Man is fallen from God. Man is born trying to control the body's lust against the spirit. Because of choice man is corrupt and condemned to death.
4. What is the basis of morality and Ethics? The commandments of God along with all the teachings of Christ found in the Bible.
5. What is the cause of evil and suffering? Evil consists in turning the will away from God. The cause of moral evil is not the creator, but the created will. Evil is the created will which turned away from the immutable God. Evil is that which falls away from essence and tends to non-being. It tends to make that which is sense to be. Moral evil is thus a privation of right order in the created will. Evil comes from man's choices and his weakness because of the fall.
6. What happens to man at death and then after? To secure happiness after death, man should worship God and only God. The son of God, even Jesus Christ, the redeemer of the world connects God to man. Happiness can only come through God through Jesus Christ. God is the source of true wisdom and happiness. Eternal life is a life granted by God, the giver of happiness, where happiness is and never ends. Faith in Christ, keeping the commandments, and loving God insures this. If this is not done Eternal death awaits. Eternal death is a soul that lives in pain, like the unclean spirits, there they will be punished. The worst death in which death never lies. In Hell there is suffering for both the body and the soul. The body will be burned in the fire while the soul will be gnawed. In Hell it is eternal punishment, man will suffer.
7. What is the meaning of history?
History is a record of God working in and through His creations to accomplish His great will.
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Thomas Aquinas's World View
1. Is there a God? What is He like? There is one God that is perfect, good, infinite, omnipotent, immutable, and eternal. Aquinas believed most of what the Bible taught, but having been influenced by the writings of Aristotle, he had a few different ideas. He believed that through man’s reason, one could find God or come to know God. In other words man could reason himself to God, by himself. He did not on the contrary believe that man could make it to God on his own, man also needed the scriptures and Gods grace. He believed that God was so great that, “He infinitely exceeds that limited perfection in richness.”
2. What is the nature of the universe. it's origin and structure? God created it through his great and infinite power. Through is beauty and splendor it shows and proves God's existence. In the universe everything revolves around the earth, it is the center of everything. Even though it was created by God in seven days as the Bible says, it has the characteristics of the universe Aristotle portrayed, including the four elements and Either.
3. What is the essential nature of man? Man is created in the image of God and on his very own can find God, without scripture. This was because his intellect had not fallen when man fell from God. He is only partly fallen though. Aquinas believed that man's reason was not fallen, he believed that Aristotle reasoned himself to God, because of his description of God, which was very much like the biblical. Man cannot be saved through his reason though, Aristotle saw the invisible attributes of God, but failed to worship him. Man must do as the scriptures say to be saved from his fallen state.
4. What is the basis of morality and Ethics? Man must act as God is described through scripture, but also as the leaders of the church teach. The church through reason can interpret what the scriptures (cannon law) say. They can figure out what to do without the scripture.
5. What is the cause of evil and suffering? The cause of evil and suffering is the fallen nature of man.
6. What happens to man at death and then after? At death the body and soul are separated. The soul goes to purgatory to pay for sins made on earth. After either Heaven or Hell await.
7. What is the meaning of history? History is a record of God working in and through His creations to accomplish His great will.
Dante's World View
1. Is there a God? What is He like? The glory of God is His light, the very being Himself. His splendor is His glory reflected in His creation. God is all supreme, powerful, glories, and loving. He is completely perfect.
2. What is the nature of the universe. it's origin and structure? God is seen in creation through His splendor. He created all things.
3. What is the essential nature of man? Man was created in the image of God, but is fallen living in sin. He is trying to get back to God, but it is hard for him. This is because man cannot make any progress in life towards God without God. No man is perfect and therefor must be purified and made good.
4. What is the basis of morality and Ethics? Justice, Prudence, Temperance, and Fortitude are the four Cardinal Virtues. All morality hangs and turns upon them. Penitential prayers along with the three parts of penance, cleanse man. The three parts of penance are; confession, contrition, and satisfaction. Confession is recognizing sin and admitting it. Contrition is a broken hear for sin and rebellion against God. Satisfaction is the image of Christ's blood which sanctifies and cleanses wrong. Meditation along with the opposing virtues of the seven deadly sins.
5. What is the cause of evil and suffering? There are seven roots of sin; pride, envy, wrath, sloth, avarice, gluttony, and lust. All of these along with separation from God, cause evil and suffering. Sin is the cause of man's wrong choices and these choices cause evil and suffering.
6. What happens to man at death and then after? Man after death if not baptized goes strait to Hell to burn for eternity in a level fit for his wrong doings. Those baptized go to Mount Purgatory where they pay personally for their sins committed on earth. After penance and suffering for wrong doings, man enters heaven to live in glory and light forever.
7. What is the meaning of history? God working in His creation.
Martin Luther's and John Calvin's World View
1. Is there a God? What is He like? God is a living God, personal and infinite. He is absolutely perfect in righteousness, and wisdom. He is omnipotent and completely perfect. He is the only living and true God.
2. What is the nature of the universe. it's origin and structure? God created the universe and everything in it out of nothing by the power of His word and His spirit. He made all sorts of animate and inanimate things arranging them in perfect order, giving to each it's particular natural work and position. The work of creation is, God's making all things of nothing, by the word of His power, in the space of six days, and all was very good.
3. What is the essential nature of man? Man is made in the image of God, he is not only wonderful when he is born again as a christian, he is wonderful as God made him in His image. Man was one with God, but because he revolted against Him, man has been separated from Him. In a space time point of history man fell. Man was created pure and good however. The body of man is a prison fro the spirit. It cannot be touched by fear of spiritual punishment. The soul in man is immortal through creation. It is the breath of energy infused in the body of God. Man's intellect can distinguish between good and evil. Man is totally fallen and corrupt, but the he still reflects God's glory in him, there us still room for divine grace. Without Christ man is under a curse because his sins. In Christ he is reunited with God through the body of Christ.
4. What is the basis of morality and Ethics In the scriptures man finds two kinds of knowledge; the knowledge of God, and the knowledge of man and nature. The scriptures crystalize about God, they clarify the light of His word. Gods absolute perfection in righteousness, wisdom and virtue are standards which man must conform to.
5. What is the cause of evil and suffering? Deluding and stupidity, which is the result of vain curiosity, uncontrolled desire and excessive pride in the pursuit of forbidden knowledge. Satan also is a cause of suffering. He deceives man into turning to sin.
6. What happens to man at death and then after? After death man is sent to the place God predestined him to go before the foundation of the world, whether Heaven or Hell no one knows, but God. If predestined to heaven man will be in total union with God and His will forever.
7. What is the meaning of history? God creating man and doing to and with him as He pleases.
1. Is there a God? What is He like? There is no God. Matter is the fundamental reality.
2. What is the nature of the universe? The world was created over a period of time through scientific events.
Hinduism World View
1. Is there a God? What is He like? Brahman is the ultimate reality of mankind, Brahman is an impersonal oneness that is beyond all distinctions, including personal and moral directions. Brahman is an impersonal force of existence.
2. What is the nature of the universe? The universe is continuous with and extended from the Being of Brahman.
3. What is the essential nature of man? Man is continuous in the sense of being extended from the Being of Brahman. He is divine in his existence, but is tapped in reincarnation in an illusory world due to ignorance and karma.
4. What is the cause of evil and suffering? Ignorance of one’s innate divinity along with the fact that man is in a illusory world due to ignorance and karma. Man attaching himself to the desires of his separate selves, or egos, and thereby to the consequences of its actions.
5. The basis of morality and ethics? Deliverance from the world through knowledge, works, or devotion. Striving to detach oneself from the separated ego and seek to be aware of one’s unity with the divine through self effort.
6. Life after death? Either the man is reincarnation into another life or merging with the ultimate reality, Brahman, heavenly bliss in the presence of gods.
7. History? Brahman is the essence of existence within all things.
Buddhism World View
1. Is there a God? What is He like? Nirvana, an abstract Void.
2. What is the nature of the universe?
3. What is the essential nature of man? An impermanent collection of aggregates
4. What is the cause of evil and suffering? Man desires that which is temporary, which causes him to continue in the illusion of the existence of the individual self.
5. The basis of morality and ethics? To cease all desire in order to realize the nonexistence of the self, thus finding permanence. Self-reliance. Man must follow the Middle Path and accrue karmic merit.
6. Life after death? To enter nirvana where the ego is extinguished or to live on forever in this world of illusion.
7. History? To gain karmic merit and be reincarnated into Nirvana.
Marxism World View
2. What is the nature of the universe? The world was created over a period of time through scientific events.
3. What is the essential nature of man? Humanity has evolved from animals. Humanity’s nature is determined by economic forces.
4. What is the cause of evil and suffering? The distinction between the laborer and the owner. Humanity is alienated from the fruit of our his own labors.
5. The basis of morality and ethics? There is no transcendent, moral absolutes. Whatever advances communism is right. Man can be saved from his alienation by eliminating private property and class distinctions. Everyone can become a new person through economic, political, and social means.
6. Life after death? There is nothing after death. Life ends.
7. History? A record of humanity’s hope in political revolution.
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