Knowledge

Man and animals Not only man, but also animals , are gifted with brains, but the cerebral cortex of animals is very much smaller than that of man, and for this reason its capacity to memorize data is much smaller.

Types of knowledge Sensitive level (common with animals) Intellective level (specifically human)

Sensitive knowledge To sense is to know the real concrete things that surround us. Sensation is the most elementary form of knowledge By sense knowledge, a person possesses the sensible forms of things. Sensing begins with the external senses: seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, smelling

Levels of sensitive knowledge External senses Internal senses Perception/common sensorial/common sense Imagination Memory Estimative/cogitative sense

External senses Vision, hearing, taste, smell and touch Called extenal senses because the organs by means of which their action develops are found on the external surface of the body.

The external senses grasp the sensible qualities of material things The external senses grasp the sensible qualities of material things. The sight can grasp color, the touch can grasp texture and temperature, the smell odor, the taste flavor, the hearing sound. The external sense can capture only that sense quality that is proper to it.

The external sense makes use of receptors that are bodily parts that react to the external stimuli coming from the things themselves.

Perception/common sensorial Perception is the internal sense that integrates the different data provided by the external senses. In reality, it may be the same object (for instance, a horse) whose qualities (color, shape, size, noise, texture, speed, position) the external senses capture.

The perception is also able to grasp the common sensibles: number, movement or rest, shape, size, quantity. These are qualities that can be grasped by more than one external sense.

Imagination The perceptions that we form are gathered together in the imagination. This faculty can store and reproduce the objects we have perceived. It can also combine the objects to come up with purely imaginary objects: a lizard with wings breathing fire: a dragon

Enables us to recognize once more those things once we perceive them again. The imagination store these images in a some kind of order, so that we can locate things. We are able to construct like a kind of map of the world that surrounds us. Creativity is the intelligent use of the imagination. The imagination can be so strong in some people to the point that these people live in an “imaginary” world.

Metaphors are images we use to convey further and deeper meanings Metaphors are images we use to convey further and deeper meanings. It is a clear indicator that the human spirit is embodied in a material human body.

Functions of imagination Oniric function (exercised above all in sleep) Sleep and the fancifullness of drowsiness often surprise us for the unexpected combinations for which they make room

2. Aesthetic or artistic function The imagination acquires harmonious combinations of images which tend to explain the state of the author’s soul in new form, and also acts to awaken analogous sentiments in spectators. Leads to creation, invention and general synthesis.

3. Practical function Imagination provides for or logically completes thought. Eg certain solutions of concrete problems like economic plan or plan for battle.

4. Speculative function In formulation of hypothesis and their illustrations. Use of myths, symbols and images to make truths assume concrete appearance.

Memory It reproposes the consciousness data obtained in the past, conserving their temporal connotation; memory is the faculty of the past it perceives things and events in asmuch as they are in the past.

The memory preserves the evaluations made by the estimative sense, as well as all the acts (internal and external) done by the person. Aside from preserving these acts, the memory “localizes” them in time. It can tell us when the act was done: “I read this book last week, but I watched the movie of it two years ago.”

The sense memory has an organic basis (it can be localized in the cerebrum). The human memory can also be intellectual memory: of thoughts, desires or judgments. In this case, no organic basis is needed, at least partially

The human memory has a tremendous importance in human life The human memory has a tremendous importance in human life. Through it, we are able to preserve our identity and connect our present with the past. When we lose our memory, we lose our identity. Because we have memory, we can recount stories and construct histories. We are able to give unity and cohesion to our own selves and to our surroundings.

Estimative Sense The estimative sense is the faculty that relates our perceptions with our own organic state and with our life Through the estimative sense, I perceive what is appropriate for me, what is advantageous, what is dangerous, what is risky, what is boring, what is tiring, what is exciting, what is challenging and so forth.

The estimative sense anticipates something in the future The estimative sense anticipates something in the future. And when it senses something in the future, it influences our acts regarding that object that is perceived.

The estimative sense in animals works by instinct The estimative sense in animals works by instinct. The sheep, by instinct will run away from the wolf because it “knows” that the wolf is dangerous. But in the case of man, the estimative sense is suffused with his intelligence.