How Do You Spell TRANSCENDENTALS?

1. Transcendentals refer to a fundamental philosophical concept that encompasses three interrelated and inseparable principles: truth, goodness, and beauty. Stemming from ancient Greek philosophy, particularly Plato and Aristotle, this concept transcends specific fields of study and applies to various aspects of existence.

   Truth, the first transcendent, refers to the state of being in accordance with reality. It embodies the principles of objectivity, accuracy, and correspondence with facts and knowledge. Truth represents the reliable and unbiased perception and understanding of the world.

   Goodness, as the second transcendent, relates to moral and ethical aspects. It encompasses virtues such as kindness, justice, and fairness, reflecting an inclination towards moral excellence and ethical behavior. Goodness signifies the quality of actions, intentions, and character that align with what is considered morally right.

   Beauty, the third transcendent, captures the aesthetic and sensory experience of harmony, balance, and perfection. It includes both physical beauty found in art, nature, and architecture, and the intellectual and emotional beauty found in poetry, music, and philosophy. Beauty evokes a sense of pleasure, admiration, and awe, often transcending ordinary experience.

   Together, the transcendentals represent universal and foundational ideals that intersect and complement each other. They form a holistic framework to understand and evaluate reality, morality, and aesthetics, addressing fundamental aspects of human experience and wisdom.

   In summary, the transcendentals encompass the concepts of truth, goodness, and beauty, serving as essential principles that guide human perceptions, actions, and appreciation of the world and our existence within it.

The word "transcendentals" is derived from the Latin term "transcendentia", which itself is formed by combining the prefix "trans", meaning "beyond" or "across", and the word "cēdens", which means "going" or "passing". Thus, the literal meaning of "transcendentia" can be understood as "the quality or state of going beyond" or "that which goes beyond".

In philosophy, particularly in Scholasticism, the transcendental properties or categories are considered to be fundamental concepts that exist beyond or above the distinctions of individual things, such as unity, truth, goodness, being, and beauty. These transcendental concepts are universal principles that apply to all beings and have been discussed extensively by several philosophers throughout history, including Plato, Aristotle, and more prominently, in medieval philosophy.