그리스도인의 삶은 언제나 정결의 덕을 칭송해왔다. 반면에 성적 유혹은 정결을 위협하는 문제이자 장애물로, 유혹을 이겨내고 정결을 보존하는 것은 우리 시대에도 중요한 가치이다. 특히 덕행의 길에 있어 악마의 유혹은 언제나 존재해왔고, 첫 사람 아담에서 부터 우리들에게까지 건강한 남자라면 성적 유혹을 피할 수 없다. 교회 안에서 널리 존경받는 성 안토니오와 성 베네딕도도 다른 많은 이들처럼 이런 성적 유혹을 겪었지만, 그것을 이겨내었고 정결의 덕을 보존하였다. 이 연구에서는 이 두 성인의 성적 유혹 이야기를 다루려 한다. 두 성인의 유혹 이야기는 오늘날 우리에게도 많은 가르침과 충고를 (...) 준다. 악마의 유혹은 다양하고 언제나 우리를 노리고 있다. 안토니오가받았던 다양한 유혹은 우리에게 매일 일어나는 유혹과 유사하다. 그리고 첫 기적을 했었던 베네딕도도 유혹을 받았다는 것은, 우리가 아무리 강하게 보일지라도, 얼마나 허약한 존재인지 우리에게 일깨워 준다. 성인들이 성적 유혹을 해결하는 방법도 오늘날 우리에게 많은 가르침을 준다. 그들은 다양한 방법으로 유혹을 이겨나갔는데, 안토니오는 기도, 믿음, 단식, 그리스도를 생각함 등 여러 방식으로 유혹을 이겨나갔고, 베네딕도는 외적 고통을 통해서 유혹을 이겨내었다. 그리고 이 모든 해결법들은 하느님에 대한 신앙과 은총 아래에서 이루어진다. 만일 우리가 유혹을 극복하기를 원한다면, 우리는 다양한 방식을 가지고 끊임없이 악마의 유혹을 거슬러 싸워야 하며, 그렇게 싸워 나갈 때, 하느님에 대한 믿음과 그분의 은총 아래에서 유혹을 이길 수 있다: 우리를 위해서 육을 입으신 그리스도의 도우심으로, 우리는 영적 성숙에 나아갈 수 있는 것이다. (shrink)

The PreambleIn the early seventies the newly discovered gauge symmetries had made it possible to give a unified description of three of the four basic forces in nature.Dawid [1]. However, it remained a mystery how the force of gravity was to be incorporated in the resulting standard model. In 1974 it was proposed by Joel Scherk and John Schwarz that string theory—which until then was regarded as a theory only of hadrons—was a theory that could unite the whole of microphysics. (...) The promise of full unification attracted many researchers to the field of string theory. A lot of work was done which expanded the mathematical framework and in 1984 Scherk and Schwarz finally succeeded in formulating the Lagrangian of the superstring: a quantised string that includes a matter field. With the mathematical formalism now firmly in place, the scientific community waited for experimental verification of the string hypothesis. And it waited.The Current DebateToday, more than 40 years after the earlies. (shrink)

What do we really know about the world? Physics utilizes complex equations to avoid having to answer philosophical questions like this. Consider, for example, the fact that the motion of particles is described in terms of straight lines, while any line that we can actually draw is never perfectly straight. Working physicists adopt many of such presuppositions, rarely stopping to question the correspondence between physical equations and reality. This has resulted in the common misconception that there is a clear divide (...) between Newton's 17th century physics and that of Einstein's on account of different mathematical descriptions. However, if equations do not always represent reality, what can they tell us about reality? This book focuses on some of the philosophical problems underlying all theories in physics, such as the nature of time (is time just 'that which is measured by a clock' or is it more than that?). It may seem as if these problems were more or less solved in the three-and-a-half centuries that have passed since Newton's time. But the philosophical 'open ends' were the same for Einstein and remain the same to this day. Philosophy and physics are two sides of the same coin. Filled with personal anecdotes and amusing examples, this book provides the perfect introduction to the topic for readers with a non-scientific background. It also enables the reader to come to their own informed conclusion about the relation between physics and the reality in which we live. (shrink)

The aim of this article is twofold. First, we shall review and analyse the neo-kantian justification for the application of probabilistic concepts in science that was defended by Hans Reichenbach early in his career, notably in his dissertation of 1916. At first sight this kantian approach seems to contrast sharply with Reichenbach’s later logical positivist, frequentist viewpoint. But, and this is our second goal, we shall attempt to show that there is an underlying continuity in Reichenbach’s thought: typical features of (...) his early kantian conceptions can still be recognized in his later work. (shrink)

Preface gives a synopsis of Spinoza, his life, and where he was at during this time period. The book gives a huge depth into Cartesian Philosophy which is the philosophical doctrine of Rene Descartes. It also speaks of metaphysics in relation to Spinoza and Cartesian Philosophy. Baruch or Benedict de Spinoza was a Dutch philosopher of Portuguese Jewish origin. Revealing considerable scientific aptitude, the breadth and importance of Spinoza's work was not fully realized until years after his death. Today, he (...) is considered one of the great rationalists of 17th-century philosophy, laying the groundwork for the 18th century Enlightenment and modern biblical criticism. By virtue of his magnum opus, the posthumous Ethics, in which he opposed Descartes' mind-body dualism, Spinoza is considered to be one of Western philosophy's most important philosophers. Philosopher and historian Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel said of all modern philosophers, "You are either a Spinozist or not a philosopher at all." All of Spinoza's works were listed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum (List of Prohibited Books) by the Roman Catholic Church. Spinoza lived quietly as a lens grinder, turning down rewards and honors throughout his life, including prestigious teaching positions, and gave his family inheritance to his sister. Spinoza's moral character and philosophical accomplishments prompted 20th century philosopher Gilles Deleuze to name him "the 'prince' of philosophers." Spinoza died at the age of 44 of a lung illness, perhaps tuberculosis or silicosis exacerbated by fine glass dust inhaled while tending to his trade. Spinoza is buried in the churchyard of the Nieuwe Kerk on Spui in The Hague. (shrink)

INTRODUCTION BRAD S. GREGORY Until now those interested in Spinoza have lacked an adequate English translation of the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus. ...

v. 1. Introduction. Theologico-political treatise. A political treatise.--v. 2. On the improvement of the understanding. The ethics. Correspondence (abridged).

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be (...) preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant. (shrink)

The Collected Works of Spinoza provides, for the first time in English, a truly satisfactory edition of all of Spinoza's writings, with accurate and readable translations, based on the best critical editions of the original-language texts, done by a scholar who has published extensively on the philosopher's work. This first volume contains Spinoza's single most important work, the Ethics, and four earlier works: the Treatise on the Emendation of the Intellect, the Short Treatise on God, Man, and His Well-Being, Descartes' (...) "Principles of Philosophy," and Metaphysical Thoughts. Also included are Spinoza's letters from the periods when these works were being written. The elaborate editorial apparatus—including prefaces, notes, glossary, and indexes—assists the reader in understanding one of the world's most fascinating, but also most difficult, philosophers. Of particular interest is the glossary-index, which provides extensive commentary on Spinoza's technical vocabulary. A milestone of scholarship more than forty-five years in the making, The Collected Works of Spinoza is an essential edition for anyone with a serious interest in Spinoza or the history of philosophy. (shrink)

This anthology of the work of Baruch de Spinoza (1632-1677) presents the text of Spinoza's masterwork, the Ethics, in what is now the standard translation by Edwin Curley. Also included are selections from other works by Spinoza, chosen by Curley to make the Ethics easier to understand, and a substantial introduction that gives an overview of Spinoza's life and the main themes of his philosophy. Perfect for course use, the Spinoza Reader is a practical tool with which to approach one (...) of the world's greatest but most difficult thinkers, a passionate seeker of the truth who has been viewed by some as an atheist and by others as a religious mystic. The anthology begins with the opening section of the Treatise on the Emendation of the Intellect, which has always moved readers by its description of the young Spinoza's spiritual quest, his dissatisfaction with the things people ordinarily strive for--wealth, honor, and sensual pleasure--and his hope that the pursuit of knowledge would lead him to discover the true good. The emphasis throughout these selections is on metaphysical, epistemological, and religious issues: the existence and nature of God, his relation to the world, the nature of the human mind and its relation to the body, and the theory of demonstration, axioms, and definitions. For each of these topics, the editor supplements the rigorous discussions in the Ethics with informal treatments from Spinoza's other works. (shrink)

The Ethics is a philosophical book written by Baruch Spinoza. It was written in Latin. Although it was published posthumously in 1677, it is his most famous work, and is considered his magnum opus. In The Ethics, Spinoza attempts to demonstrate a "fully cohesive philosophical system that strives to provide a coherent picture of reality and to comprehend the meaning of an ethical life. Following a logical step-by-step format, it defines in turn the nature of God, the mind, human bondage (...) to the emotions, and the power of understanding -- moving from a consideration of the eternal, to speculate upon humanity's place in the natural order, freedom, and the path to attainable happiness. (shrink)