RATIONAL THOUGHTS

BOOK ONE

The obstacles are removed which impede the understanding of Spiritual Things.

CHAPTER ONE.

1. On the five opinions regarding the knowledge of spiritual things. 2. The first is refuted. 3. 4. 5. The three causes of this assertion are repelled.

Large decorative historiated drop cap 'Q' featuring a seated figure surrounded by ornate scrolling foliage and floral motifs.
I. The smokescreens original: "offuciæ"; refers to deceptive tricks or cosmetic washes used to hide the truth opposed to the knowledge of spiritual things are not of just one kind. There are those who want no knowledge at all to be acquired; some who want it through mere words; some through external sensible things; some through the imagination. There are also those who seek knowledge of Minds In this context, "Minds" refers to spiritual or immaterial substances through purer thought or the intellect. Even among these latter thinkers, who stand on the side of truth, there is no lack of their own particular blemish original: "nævus"; a mole or birthmark, used here metaphorically for a flaw in the things they often propose as true, as will be seen in what follows. We shall now confront the others.

II. Although those who thrust forward mere words, or things presented to the senses or imagination, as the idea or knowledge of spiritual things, are consequently in agreement with those who assert no knowledge of them at all, they differ in this: the former, professing a knowledge of them in word, sell their own phantasms mental images or figments of the imagination in its place; the latter expressly deny such knowledge. This second opinion joins impiety with absurdity—not to mention that it embraces the principle of Atheism and the doctrine of the extinction of Souls. For who would attribute life to a thing that is plainly unknown? Otherwise, if it is recognized as living, it is certainly already recognized. Indeed, this view even denies all knowledge of the true and the good. To correct such people, it should suffice to remind them that they are conscious of thought—whether they are thinking about themselves, or about a chimera chimera: a mythical creature made of parts from different animals; used here to mean a total figment of the imagination, or about corporeal things, if they wish. They should recognize that they have a consciousness of volition (if I may express the act thus), of affirmation, of assent, of dissent, and similar acts. To be conscious of some "something" original: "non-nihili"; literally a "not-nothing," implying a substantial entity that thinks, affirms, dissents, and is capable of representing a figure or chimera to itself—that is already to know a spiritual thing to some extent. But because in everything that follows, these people will be repelled in "exercised act" in actu exercito: a Scholastic term meaning demonstrating a truth through the very performance of an action (like the act of thinking) rather than just through theoretical definition, we shall address the others, if first...