Theology Study Guide: Foundational Principles

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on foundational principles in theology, focusing on mental acts, logic, and the nature of reality.

Simple Apprehension

The mental act of grasping a concept without making a judgment.

Judgment

A mental act that involves making a statement about reality.

Reasoning

The process of drawing conclusions based on premises.

Porphyrian Tree

A diagram that shows the categories of beings and their differences.

Comprehension

The meaning or essence of a concept.

Extension

The range of things that a concept applies to.

Kerygma

The core proclamation of the Gospel: Christ's life, death, and resurrection for salvation.

Telos/End

The final purpose or goal of something.

Form

The essence of a thing, what makes it what it is.

Matter

The physical 'stuff' of which something is made.

Substance

What a thing is at its core, beyond appearances.

Accidents

The non-essential qualities of a thing, such as color, shape, and size.

Act

A thing's reality as it is right now.

Potency

A thing's ability to become something else.

Four Causes

Material, Formal, Efficient, and Final causes that explain why things exist.

Logic

The art of correct reasoning that helps avoid error and understand reality.

Syllogism

A logical argument consisting of premises and a conclusion.

Sound Argument

An argument that is both valid and has premises that match reality.