Metaphysical and Gnoseological Periods in Philosophy

Metaphysical Period: 6th Century BC to 17th Century AD

There are two stages:

• Naturalist (5th-6th Century BC): This is the thought of the Greeks, who argued that nature is perfect and eternal. Nature includes the world, humans, and gods.
• Supernatural (5th Century BC to 17th Century AD): The natural world is not as important as the supernatural world. Society returns to the myth.

Naturalism

Nature is the foundation of three branches of philosophy:

• Ethics: Refers to individual behavior and gives reason-based standards to guide it. Conscience must be based on nature.
• Morality: A set of customary rules that tell us what is good and what is bad. Born to criticize from the right.
• Law: Intended to establish standards to guide our conduct in connection with others.
• Iusnaturalism: This means that justice is in nature. It is a theory that says laws are fair because they are based on nature. Human rights start here.
• Politics: What is the end of the state? The end should be that each person has the opportunity to enjoy life and security releases.

Ages

In Politics

The Church is above the state; kings should be subject to the authority of the Pope. The state aims to lead men in their earthly lives. The Church leads to eternal life, and its end is superior.

In Law

Iusnaturalism applies because nature is perfect, being the work of God. God established the eternal law that governs the universe at two levels:

• Physical Law of Nature: To which all material entities are necessarily subjected.
• Natural Law: Written in the conscience of man, whose fulfillment depends on the free decisions of human beings. From this result:
• Ethical Laws: To guide individual behavior, subject only to one's own conscience.
• Positive Law: Establishes the rules for the coexistence of earthly society, applying natural law to the circumstances of each era and place.

Gnoseological Period

Science of human knowledge. It tries to answer what the limit of human knowledge is and which method man uses to know reality.

There are two periods:

• Renaissance: Returning to Greek thought, characterized by humanism and naturalism.
• The Enlightenment: Highlighted by the dominance of reason and science as a guide for solving the problems of humanity.