Papers by Marta Lince de Faria
1. Introduction. 2. Aquinas on Evolution. 3. De Koninck on Evolution. 4. Aquinas on matter. 5. In... more 1. Introduction. 2. Aquinas on Evolution. 3. De Koninck on Evolution. 4. Aquinas on matter. 5. Indeterminism and the desire of matter. 6. Indeterminism and time. 7. Indeterminism and evolution. 8. Conclusions. Abstract: In the philosophical section of his book The Cosmos, Charles De Koninck presents a Thomistic answer to the question on evolution. De Koninck's intention is to draw a metaphysical theory of evolution that does not depend on any singular fact of natural history but that could support some of its most important evidences: the evolution from simple to complex beings and the emergency of the different kinds of life (vegetative, sensitive and intelligent). In this article, we will first present some general principles developed by St. Thomas that could be of interest in the study of evolution. Secondly, we will draw an outline of De Koninck's theory. And finally, we will analyze The Cosmos together with some of De Koninck's writings on indeterminism using some of the principles presented in the first part of the article in order to assess how Koninck's stance is a Thomistic one. We find that, in The Cosmos, De Koninck emphasizes the role of the principal spiritual cause in bringing about effects which are ontologically superior to their instrumental material causes. However, his indeterministic view of nature that is based on a particular conception of matter conveys the idea that the evolutionary process is the necessary consequence of the essential desire of matter for the human form.
Skills shortages and skill mismatch are a pressing concern for policymakers in several developing... more Skills shortages and skill mismatch are a pressing concern for policymakers in several developing countries, and in East Asia specifically. Providing on-the-job training can be an effective policy tool to shape the skills of the existent workforce to the specific needs of the firms. This paper explores a unique data set of matched employer-employee data for Malaysia and Thailand to estimate the wage return to on-the-job training in these two countries. Exploring propensity score matching estimates, we show that the average wage returns to on-the-job training are 7.7% for Malaysia and 4.5% for Thailand. Furthermore, we find evidence that the wage returns to on-the-job training are higher for males than for females in Malaysia and that, for both countries, returns are higher for workers with at least secondary education.
Drafts by Marta Lince de Faria
According to St. Thomas Aquinas, natural law is "nothing else than the rational creature's partic... more According to St. Thomas Aquinas, natural law is "nothing else than the rational creature's participation in the eternal law" (ST 1-2.91.2). This simple and elegant definition, typical of Thomas, brings with it many implications that are not easily understood. As we go deeper into Aquinas’s thought, we understand that what at first sight seemed simple turns out to become complex. One example of this is the discernment of the first principles of natural law. How do people actively exercise this power of participating in God’s eternal law? How do we recognize the first principles of natural law in our everyday life? In ST 1-2.94.2 St. Thomas explains the epistemological process according to which we grasp the precepts of the natural law. This text has generated several interpretations which imply different understandings of how the speculative and practical intellect interact. The different views can be generally summarized in three, which we will call here: “derivationism”; “pre-rational inclinationism” and “rational inclinationism”. In this work we intend to present a summary of each of these interpretations and explore some of their consequences, especially with regard to the idea of happiness and the relationship between happiness and particular goods. We will also explain why we consider “rational inclinationism” to be the most accurate interpretation of the text of St. Thomas and how it is more coherent with Aquinas’s general theory of knowledge and moral philosophy.
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Papers by Marta Lince de Faria
Drafts by Marta Lince de Faria