The Life of Thomas Aquinas

Summary

Thomas Aquinas, born around 1225, was a pivotal philosopher who integrated Christian faith with Aristotelian philosophy, shaping Scholasticism and influencing European thought for centuries. Known for works like the *Summa Theologiae* and *Summa Contra Gentiles*, Aquinas presented arguments for the existence of God and explored the nature of divine simplicity. His early decision to join the Dominican order against his family’s wishes, his philosophical writings, and his mystical experiences culminated in a legacy that continues to impact both theology and philosophy today.

Takeaways

• 😀 Thomas Aquinas is one of the most influential philosophers in history, known for merging Christian theology with Aristotelian philosophy.
• 😀 Aquinas was born around 1225 in Aquino, Italy, and initially studied at a Benedictine Abbey before joining the Dominican Order.
• 😀 Despite his family's opposition, Aquinas chose the Dominican Order over the Benedictines, a decision that led to his temporary imprisonment.
• 😀 Aquinas resisted an attempt by his family to seduce him by using a harlot, famously chasing her out with a stick and drawing the sign of the cross on the wall.
• 😀 Aquinas studied at the University of Paris, where he came into contact with the Scholastic philosopher Albert the Great.
• 😀 His early philosophical works included commentaries on the Old Testament and *Sentences* by Peter Lombard.
• 😀 Aquinas's work *On Being and Essence* marked a major introduction to his metaphysical ideas based on Aristotle.
• 😀 His magnum opus, *Summa Theologica*, presents five ways to prove God's existence, including the arguments from motion, causation, contingency, perfection, and final causes.
• 😀 Aquinas’s model of divine simplicity asserts that God is not made up of distinct attributes but is simply Himself.
• 😀 After a mystical experience, Aquinas famously declared that all his writings seemed like 'straw' compared to divine revelations, halting work on *Summa Theologica*.
• 😀 Aquinas died in 1274 after an injury on his way to the Ecumenical Council of Leon, leaving a lasting legacy in both philosophy and Christian thought.

Q & A

Who was Thomas Aquinas and why is he important in philosophy?

Thomas Aquinas was a medieval philosopher and theologian who is renowned for reconciling Christian faith with Aristotelian philosophy. His work dominated European thought during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, influencing both Christian theology and Western philosophy.

What was Aquinas’s early education like?

Aquinas was initially sent to the Benedictine Abbey at Monte Cassino to prepare for a career as an Abbott, but he later chose to join the Dominican order, much to his family's dismay. He studied in Naples and Paris, where he became influenced by the works of Aristotle and other scholars.

Why did Thomas Aquinas’s family oppose his decision to join the Dominicans?

Aquinas’s family wanted him to pursue a prestigious career as a Benedictine Abbott to help improve their status in society. They were against his decision to join the Dominicans because the order was new, lacked power, and promoted a life of poverty, which contradicted their aspirations.

How did Aquinas’s family attempt to prevent him from joining the Dominicans?

Aquinas’s family kidnapped him and held him under house arrest for a year. They even sent a prostitute to try and tempt him away from his vow of chastity, but Aquinas resisted and chased her away with a stick, marking the event as a pivotal moment in his commitment to his vocation.

What was the significance of Aquinas’s work *Summa Contra Gentiles*?

*Summa Contra Gentiles* was an apologetical work by Aquinas that aimed to refute objections to Christianity, addressing challenges posed by Muslims, Jews, and pagans. It was one of his most influential works in defending and clarifying Christian doctrine.

What are the five ways Thomas Aquinas argued for the existence of God?

Aquinas’s five ways include: the argument from motion (change), the argument from causation (efficient cause), the argument from contingency (necessity), the argument from degrees of perfection (maximal perfection), and the argument from final causes (purpose or ends of things). These arguments aimed to demonstrate the necessity of a First Cause or Prime Mover—God.

What is the concept of 'divine simplicity' that Aquinas proposed?

Aquinas’s concept of divine simplicity states that God is not composed of separate parts or attributes. Instead, God is simply Himself, and all His characteristics are identical with His essence, making Him indivisible and fundamentally different from created beings.

What is the significance of Aquinas’s mystical experience before the crucifix?

Aquinas had a mystical experience while praying before a crucifix, where Christ reportedly told him, 'You have written well of me.' This encounter led Aquinas to state that all his scholarly work seemed like 'straw' compared to the divine revelations he had received. This marked a turning point in his intellectual journey.

Why did Aquinas stop working on *Summa Theologiae*?

Aquinas ceased work on *Summa Theologiae* after his mystical experiences, during which he felt that his intellectual efforts paled in comparison to the divine insights he had received. He famously stated, 'The end of my labors has come,' and could not bring himself to finish the work.

How did Thomas Aquinas’s death occur?

Thomas Aquinas died in 1274 after being struck by a tree branch while traveling to the Ecumenical Council of Lyon. He died shortly afterward, at the age of around 49, leaving behind an enduring legacy in both theology and philosophy.