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Research paper thumbnail of An Existential Thomist's Contribution to Resolving the Naturalistic Fallacy

An earlier version of a paper that I am trying to get published. In this version, I present the ... more An earlier version of a paper that I am trying to get published. In this version, I present the Thomistic doctrines of esse, bonum, and virtual quantity to address the is-ought fallacy as well as the important distinction between the essence of the logician and the essence of the philosopher. In later drafts, I develop this last theme in much more depth., which I will post once published.

Research paper thumbnail of Curriculum Vitae, December 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Summary of Pope John Paul II's Letter on The Freedom of Conscience and of Religion PHH960: Thomism and Democracy

II recognized the 1980 Conference on European Security and Cooperation with great approval. On th... more II recognized the 1980 Conference on European Security and Cooperation with great approval. On the occasion of this historic event which helped to set the pace for the advancement and protection of human rights in general, the Pope sent a letter to each head of state involved with the approval of the conference documents. Of the documents, John Paul II believed The Helinski Final Act to be of most special importance because it sought to foster a peaceful relationship during a time of great division between Eastern and Western Europe. What the Pope offers is an argument seeking to persuade the participating heads of state to realize the value and importance of rights regarding freedom of religion.

Research paper thumbnail of The New Covenant, The Law, and True Righteousness.docx

A commentary on Matthew 5:17-22. The main themes examined are the status of the Old Law in light... more A commentary on Matthew 5:17-22. The main themes examined are the status of the Old Law in light of the coming of the Messiah.

Research paper thumbnail of Finality and the Fifth Way

The topic of teleology is one which is widely misunderstood in popular and academic debate. This... more The topic of teleology is one which is widely misunderstood in popular and academic debate. This aspect of classical metaphysics is one which has wide-ranging implications touching on topics from ethics, philosophy of science, and the existence of God. In this paper, the author will present the arguments for teleology as an intrinsic feature of the natural world from Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas which will then be explored in its implications through the Quinta Via as found in ST I, Q. 2, Art. 3. The paper ends with an analysis of how and what it means to say that Aquinas' fifth way leads one to the belief that God exists.

Papers by Jonathan L Stute

Research paper thumbnail of Maritain on Rights and Human Value: Participation in the Divine Goodness

In this paper, I defend Jacques Maritain's position on human rights from the criticisms leveled b... more In this paper, I defend Jacques Maritain's position on human rights from the criticisms leveled by Alasdair MacIntyre against the very idea of intrinsic rights as grounded in a Thomist worldview. The principle line of defense is to show how Maritain's metaphysical commitments ground his Christian Humanism from which Maritain derives his theory of intrinsic human rights. If one considers Maritain's theory of rights under the light of Thomistic doctrines of participation, convertibility of being and goodness, the hierarchy of being, and natural law then one finds that it constitutes a genuine development on the authentic Thomistic tradition.

Research paper thumbnail of Baruch on Wisdom

Research paper thumbnail of Contra Democritus and The Dynamic Interplay of Act and Potency Found in Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas

This paper offers a case against the atomistic monism of Democritus and presents the dynamic inte... more This paper offers a case against the atomistic monism of Democritus and presents the dynamic interplay between act and potency as a compelling alternative to atomism. Starting with the act-potency distinction, I move on to discuss form, matter, and substance as examples of the act-potency distinction in the natural world. I conclude by drawing attention to Aquinas' own discover of the act-potency distinction in immaterial substances as found in his work De Ente et Essentia. The study of act and potency moves from the pure potency of prime matter to the pure actuality of God.

Conference Presentations by Jonathan L Stute

Research paper thumbnail of Accounting for the Unity of the Human Person in St. Thomas Aquinas and Rene Descartes

Accounting for the Unity of the Human Person in Rene Descartes and Thomas Aquinas, 2018

Some questions in philosophy never grow old, and one of these questions is the nature of the huma... more Some questions in philosophy never grow old, and one of these questions is the nature of the human person and the relationship between body and soul. While most contemporary debate occurs between some form of Cartesian Dualism or some form of materialism, in this paper I compare the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas and Renes Descartes on the unity of the human person. I begin by giving an overview of Descartes' position, and answering criticisms from his contemporaries. I also show that the typical "ghost in a machine" characterization is a misrepresentation of Descartes' view. After this, I provide a explanation of St. Thomas' teaching which argues that the ultimate principle of intrinsic human unity is ​ esse​ or the act of existence, which is consistent with the Existentialist school of Thomism and is rarely given attention. My explanation allows St. Thomas to avoid the criticisms usually leveled against Descartes. In the end, I demonstrate that Descartes' position leads to a violation of the law of non-contradiction and is therefore rendered absurd, thus showing St. Thomas' doctrine to be the superior account of the unity of the human person.

Research paper thumbnail of An Existential Thomist's Contribution to Resolving the Naturalistic Fallacy

An earlier version of a paper that I am trying to get published. In this version, I present the ... more An earlier version of a paper that I am trying to get published. In this version, I present the Thomistic doctrines of esse, bonum, and virtual quantity to address the is-ought fallacy as well as the important distinction between the essence of the logician and the essence of the philosopher. In later drafts, I develop this last theme in much more depth., which I will post once published.

Research paper thumbnail of Curriculum Vitae, December 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Summary of Pope John Paul II's Letter on The Freedom of Conscience and of Religion PHH960: Thomism and Democracy

II recognized the 1980 Conference on European Security and Cooperation with great approval. On th... more II recognized the 1980 Conference on European Security and Cooperation with great approval. On the occasion of this historic event which helped to set the pace for the advancement and protection of human rights in general, the Pope sent a letter to each head of state involved with the approval of the conference documents. Of the documents, John Paul II believed The Helinski Final Act to be of most special importance because it sought to foster a peaceful relationship during a time of great division between Eastern and Western Europe. What the Pope offers is an argument seeking to persuade the participating heads of state to realize the value and importance of rights regarding freedom of religion.

Research paper thumbnail of The New Covenant, The Law, and True Righteousness.docx

A commentary on Matthew 5:17-22. The main themes examined are the status of the Old Law in light... more A commentary on Matthew 5:17-22. The main themes examined are the status of the Old Law in light of the coming of the Messiah.

Research paper thumbnail of Finality and the Fifth Way

The topic of teleology is one which is widely misunderstood in popular and academic debate. This... more The topic of teleology is one which is widely misunderstood in popular and academic debate. This aspect of classical metaphysics is one which has wide-ranging implications touching on topics from ethics, philosophy of science, and the existence of God. In this paper, the author will present the arguments for teleology as an intrinsic feature of the natural world from Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas which will then be explored in its implications through the Quinta Via as found in ST I, Q. 2, Art. 3. The paper ends with an analysis of how and what it means to say that Aquinas' fifth way leads one to the belief that God exists.

Research paper thumbnail of Maritain on Rights and Human Value: Participation in the Divine Goodness

In this paper, I defend Jacques Maritain's position on human rights from the criticisms leveled b... more In this paper, I defend Jacques Maritain's position on human rights from the criticisms leveled by Alasdair MacIntyre against the very idea of intrinsic rights as grounded in a Thomist worldview. The principle line of defense is to show how Maritain's metaphysical commitments ground his Christian Humanism from which Maritain derives his theory of intrinsic human rights. If one considers Maritain's theory of rights under the light of Thomistic doctrines of participation, convertibility of being and goodness, the hierarchy of being, and natural law then one finds that it constitutes a genuine development on the authentic Thomistic tradition.

Research paper thumbnail of Baruch on Wisdom

Research paper thumbnail of Contra Democritus and The Dynamic Interplay of Act and Potency Found in Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas

This paper offers a case against the atomistic monism of Democritus and presents the dynamic inte... more This paper offers a case against the atomistic monism of Democritus and presents the dynamic interplay between act and potency as a compelling alternative to atomism. Starting with the act-potency distinction, I move on to discuss form, matter, and substance as examples of the act-potency distinction in the natural world. I conclude by drawing attention to Aquinas' own discover of the act-potency distinction in immaterial substances as found in his work De Ente et Essentia. The study of act and potency moves from the pure potency of prime matter to the pure actuality of God.

Research paper thumbnail of Accounting for the Unity of the Human Person in St. Thomas Aquinas and Rene Descartes

Accounting for the Unity of the Human Person in Rene Descartes and Thomas Aquinas, 2018

Some questions in philosophy never grow old, and one of these questions is the nature of the huma... more Some questions in philosophy never grow old, and one of these questions is the nature of the human person and the relationship between body and soul. While most contemporary debate occurs between some form of Cartesian Dualism or some form of materialism, in this paper I compare the teaching of St. Thomas Aquinas and Renes Descartes on the unity of the human person. I begin by giving an overview of Descartes' position, and answering criticisms from his contemporaries. I also show that the typical "ghost in a machine" characterization is a misrepresentation of Descartes' view. After this, I provide a explanation of St. Thomas' teaching which argues that the ultimate principle of intrinsic human unity is ​ esse​ or the act of existence, which is consistent with the Existentialist school of Thomism and is rarely given attention. My explanation allows St. Thomas to avoid the criticisms usually leveled against Descartes. In the end, I demonstrate that Descartes' position leads to a violation of the law of non-contradiction and is therefore rendered absurd, thus showing St. Thomas' doctrine to be the superior account of the unity of the human person.