This famous line from the 18th-century English poet Alexander Pope's poem "An Essay on Man" is as captivating today as it was 300 years ago (especially if we mentally substitute 'man' with 'human'). Sometimes, when we fail to express our confused thoughts and feelings, we do what people have done for thousands of years - … Continue reading “Proper Study of Mankind is Man”
Aquinas On Soul – Brief Notes
For St. Thomas Aquinas, any material substance (unlike immaterial, for example, angels) is a metaphysical unity made of matter and form. The substantial form is what configures or organizes the matter into this substance and not any other. For a human being, our substantial form is our soul. Human souls are rational. Therefore, according to … Continue reading Aquinas On Soul – Brief Notes
Poetry as Philosophy for the Soul
What to do when you want to express yourself but your own words fail you? When that happens to me, I turn to poets. It is their gift to 'dress' in the right words all our confused thoughts and feelings, especially when the latter cannot seem to figure out which 'clothes to wear'. Poets are … Continue reading Poetry as Philosophy for the Soul
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