In addition, one should not understate the extent to which there has been some mutual influence between literature and philosophy. Just as some novelists
have employed philosophical ideas in their novels, so some philosophers have used novels for philosophical purposes, including the use of fictional forms to
express their philosophy Horton 72. Moreover, according to Martha Nussbaum in Bressler’s book, literary
form is not separable from philosophical content, but is, itself, a part of content— an integral part, then, of the search for and the statement of truth Horton 73.
2.1.2 Theory of Learning
Learning is indexed by a change in behavior, in other words, the results of learning must always be translated into observable behavior. After learning,
learners are capable of doing something that they could not do before learning took place Hergenhahn 2. In other words, in the learning process, the learners
are capable to solve problems that they could not do before learning took place. According to Gestalt theory, the learners think about all of the ingredients
necessary to solve a problem and puts them together cognitively first one way and then another until the problem is solved Hergenhahn 261. This behavioral
change is relatively permanent; that is, it is neither transitory nor fixed. The change in behavior need not occur immediately following the learning experience.
Although there may be a potential to act differently, this potential to act may not be translated into behavior immediately. The change in behavior results from
experience or practice. The experience or practice must be reinforced; that is, only 9
those responses that lead to reinforcement will be learned. Therefore, learning is a relatively permanent change in behavioral potentiality that occurs as a result of
experience or practice Hergenhahn 2.
2.1.3 Theory of Perfection
The most valuable item in the universe is man. He alone is the image of his Creator. Man alone has divinity for his destiny Cronan 3. Moreover, the
ideas of man as self positively are built from our bodily continuity, from our experience of sequential thinking, from our acceptance of responsibility for our
decisions and actions, and from the consistency with which those we love and all those we relate to treat to us O’Connell 94. Cronan said that man is a human
being who is attracted to perfection to make the goodness of anything 21. In the Thomistic system, perfection is the actual existent, and is in fact its term of
measurement: something is perfect just as far as it actually is Cronan 23-24. Therefore, human perfection is the completeness and actualization of human
person who finds in existence. Since goodness is perfection and perfection is existential being, then to be
existing is the primal perfection, the root constitution and explanation of the good,
the ultimate significance of both concepts. Moreover, something created will have value commensurate with perfection: he will be perfect in so far as he is, and
simply because he is, and so will be worth as much as he is; the more something is, the better it is Cronan 24. How this perfection works within human person
will be the main point in this specific section. 10
2.1.3.1 Superiority of Mind
