Use Of Imagination With Faith And Reason In The Pursuit Of Truth Essay Example

of Truth. The reasons behind our perceptions, even based on sensory experiences, may often be clouded and unable to be rationalized with logic alone due to our limited knowledge. Reason can only be relied upon for everyday matters. Abstract concepts like Truth or Justice may not be fully understood or interpreted using inadequate methods; it is similar to exploring unknown territories by traversing known lands.

In contrast, Faith has the ability to support and guide us towards Truth, manifesting itself in life instead of mere words. The method used by those who are simple-minded is employed to achieve Truth in life. Another important approach to Truth is through reason. This approach gained prominence after the Protestant revolution in Europe, which shook the foundations of religious beliefs. The Roman Catholic Church suffered greatly at the hands of Calvin and Martin Luther King, causing doubts about religion as a means to achieve Truth.

Many educated individuals, such as Descartes, began questioning the Church's teachings including their belief that Earth was the center of the Universe.The foundations of their beliefs were shaken, leading them to find alternative methods in the pursuit of Truth. This marked the emergence of the age of Reason in Europe. Descartes sought to attain Truth by questioning everything he had been taught and discarding false theories. He aimed to gain respect from conservative minds by following Ignatius of Loyola's example. According to Descartes, our minds are more comprehensible than our bodies as we are essentially intelligent beings. While he recognized his own finite thinking abilities, he acknowledged God as an infinite being. In his meditation, Descartes reflects on God as an infinite world, an eternal and

unchanging substance who is independent, supremely intelligent, supremely powerful, and the creator of all things. Such understanding enables him to explore truths that theologians have attempted to explain before. Descartes' method of reasoning involves circular movement known as the "Cartesian Circle". This approach demands thorough analysis and diligent efforts for it to be grasped by an average reader. It is generally agreed upon that proving the existence of God solely through intellectual endeavor is not possible; rather, a leap of faith is required.Hence, it is a challenging task to reach the truth through logical reasoning and even if accomplished, the Meditator must properly comprehend it. The Meditator faces the difficult job of clarifying his views to both his opponents and supporters, which is not an easy endeavor. Even after explaining and elaborating, there remains a possibility that even supposedly unbiased and balanced mindsets may possess bias after all. The third module of imagination in search of Truth may appear contradictory, but it has a valid background.

The Notre Dame Cathedral serves as a powerful reminder of the shift from reason to terror, resulting in the deaths of 20,000 Frenchmen. Rationalism was suppressing artistic expression during this time period when many relied on strict rules for their creative outlets. Philosophers like Voltaire turned to poetry as a means of conveying truth during this era. For these visionaries, truth became something tangible and visible, symbolizing what is intangible and unseen.

In his Ode to a Greek Urn, poet John Keats sang "Beauty is truth, truth beauty" - emphasizing that knowledge about Earth revolves around these concepts alone. Keats belonged to a group of poets who followed the Romantic Tradition.

Thus, seeking God through the visible world also holds true significance according to this idea. Blake, an early proponent of Romanticism tradition suggests that ordinary earthly matters confine our understanding but through poetry or philosophy humans can attain deeper insight into reality.Blake asserts that all religions are essentially the same and that religious texts are expressions of a poetic module, containing hints of truth (Introduction to imagination). This idea aligns with the beliefs of earlier poets and storytellers who foresaw inventions like flying machines and submarines before they were actually invented. For instance, Kekule discovered the molecular structure of benzene after dreaming about a serpent biting its tail, using this dream in his research (Osborn).

In terms of seeking truth, different approaches exist. Personally, I favor religion as a method over the other two methods. St. Thomas Aquinas presents strong arguments supporting this view by stating that reason can uncover truth but requires extensive knowledge and effort (Osborn). The pursuit of Truth demands patience and time to grasp basic principles and achieve the right mental state for deliberate contemplation, as expressed by a wise sage. However, only a few individuals are willing to invest the necessary time and effort to understand these principles. If uncovering Truth solely depended on this method, only true geniuses would succeed while leaving the world in darkness.Considering the limited progress made solely using imagination, through deriving equations and expressions from dreams and poetic inspiration, it becomes evident that not all poets possess visionary qualities. It is worth noting that poetry is often created under the influence of alcohol or drugs. However, individuals who have studied various subjects frequently come to the

realization that a benevolent God is responsible for this Universe. It seems unfair for such a God to withhold access to the Truth from ordinary people without requiring complex reasoning or unreliable imagination. Hence, it is reasonable to believe that God would reveal the Truth and expect his children to have faith in it. This should provide ample reason for us to embrace faith instead of relying solely on logic and imagination. To sum up, adopting a faithful perspective is the ideal approach towards uncovering Truth. The grounding module serves as a guide and can be directed by the power of imaginativeness. Ground acts as an advantage when comprehending God's Truths, while imaginativeness offers insight into future possibilities.