Thomas Aquinas's Works and Philosophies As an Italian philosopher and theologian, Thomas led the Church towards a new way of thinking. (MSN Learning and Research). From the beginning he rebelled against a life previously set by his family, and paved a road towards success for himself. Aquinas studied Aristotelian doctrine when he came into contact with the Dominican order, much to his mother and father's dismay (Bjorn's Guide to Philosophy). While he was in Naples he studied under the German Scholastic philosopher Albertus Magnus. Although he was called "Dumb Ox" because of his heavy-set frame, and slow way of working, he was looked to for inspiration as a controversy flared as universities were founding Aristotelian corpus, the relation between faith and reason, was called into question (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophies). Aquinas created his own philosophies on sense perception and intellectual knowledge, ideas that he adopted from Aristotle text. While still young, he was incepted as a master of theology in Paris and began to write Summa contra gentiles.
Italy
St. Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225-1274), the eponym of T...
Thomas Aquinas depicted in stained glassWhile there he defended mendicant order and disagreed with Avveroistic interpretations of Aristotle. He also supported the re-birth of ancient Greek philosophies, which countered the Franciscan tendency to reject them. After finishing Summa contra gentiles he relocated in Rome and began one of his greatest works, Summa Theologiae (Bjorn's Guide to Philosophy). His writing included the construction of his beliefs and defense of his system based on Aristotle. Brilliantly, he also adopted his system to the needs of the 13th century, leading an even larger scale of success.
In the end, the result was new modus vivendi, beliefs the Church used to regulate with, which was a new relationship between faith and philosophy (Encarta Learning and Research). In further works, Aquinas made textual commentaries on Aristotle, and continued offering insight to lingering problems in metaphysics, philosophy of mind and religion, in addition to morals and ethics (Bartleby). In creation of these answers, Aristotle was not Thomas's only influence. Like Aristotle, Aquinas believed that something could be learned from any author, so he also looked towards the beginners of Neo-Platonism, such as: Augustine Boethius, Psuedo- Dionysuis, and Proclus. Other ideas came from Islamic scholars; such as, Avveroes and Avvcenna. In addition to the Jewish thinkers: Maimonides, and Solomn ben Yehua ibn Gabril. His eclectic "hodgepodge" was later called Thomistic philosophy because it cannot be significantly characterized by anything shared with earlier writers and thinkers. Because of critics of the time, it is said that not a single work of Aquinas's reveals his entire philosophies (Bartleby).
Although, he did create some of the greatest works of his time, including Five Ways of Proving the Existence of God. In this he included the following reasoning: Faith and reason discover truth.
Reasoning lead to the mind of God.
To reach the highest truths individuals need the aid of God through revelation.
His efforts were to reconcile faith with intellect, creating an alternative for the division in the Roman Church. Any departure from Thomistic thinking was strongly discouraged in Catholic Schools because of the synthesis made were brought into line with the Bible and Roman- Catholic Doctrine. Although many philosophies were derived from the scholastic thinker, Aristotle, he believed that it focused too narrowly on only a few professions. His propositions were like that of humanistic thinkers; whereas, it was important to educate the whole person, placing an emphasis on intellectual development as well as physically and morally.
Mostly created while he was in the earlier years of his life, eighty or more works are ascribed to Thomas Aquinas. He paved the way for the belief drwn from inspiration from Plato's doctrines; whereas, similar to mysticism, men can achieve a relationship with God through their own ways (Catholic Encyclopedia).
Bibliography of Biography: Bjorn's Guide to Philosophy, "St. Thomas Aquinas," Beard, Robert, www.knuten.liu.se, accesses 5-16-02 Catholic Encyclopedia, "Neo- Platonism," newadvent.org, accessed 5-20-02 MSN Learning and Research," Aquina, Saint Thomas," Microsoft Encarta Online Encyclopedia (2002), encarta.msn.com, accessed 5-20-02 "Saint Thomas Aquinas" Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, plato.stanford.edu, accessed 5-16-02 "Saint Thomas Aquinas's Five Ways" members.aol.com/plweiss1/auina.htm "Thomas and Aristotle," Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, plato.stanford.edu, accessed 5-16-02 Thomas Aquinas, Saint, "Thomas Aquinas," The Columbia Encyclopedia Sixth Edition (2001), www.bartleby.com
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English: Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) stained ...
English: St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Toronto