Life of Thomas Aquinas
- Thomas Aquinas was one of the most influential philosophers of the Middle Ages. He was born in 1225 in Roccasecca, Italy, to a noble family. His parents wanted him to become a Benedictine monk, so he was sent to the Benedictine monastery at Monte Cassino at the age of five. He was educated there until he was fourteen, when he was sent to the University of Naples to study philosophy and theology.
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- At the University of Naples, Aquinas was exposed to the works of Aristotle and the writings of the Church Fathers. He was particularly influenced by the works of Augustine and Albert the Great. Aquinas was also influenced by the works of Averroes, a Muslim philosopher. Aquinas was so impressed by the works of Aristotle that he decided to become a Dominican friar.
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- In 1245, Aquinas joined the Dominican Order and began his studies at the University of Paris. He studied under Albert the Great and was greatly influenced by his teachings. Aquinas was also influenced by the works of John Duns Scotus, a Franciscan philosopher. Aquinas was particularly interested in the works of Aristotle and sought to reconcile the teachings of the Church with the teachings of Aristotle.
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- Aquinas wrote extensively on a variety of topics, including philosophy, theology, and ethics. He wrote several important works, including the Summa Theologica, which is considered to be one of the most important works of medieval philosophy. In this work, Aquinas sought to reconcile the teachings of the Church with the teachings of Aristotle. He argued that faith and reason could be reconciled and that both could be used to understand the world.
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- Aquinas also wrote extensively on ethics. He argued that morality was based on natural law, which was derived from God. He argued that human beings had a duty to obey the natural law and that this was the basis of morality. Aquinas also argued that human beings had a duty to pursue the highest good, which was the ultimate goal of life.
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- Aquinas was also an important figure in the development of scholasticism. Scholasticism was a philosophical movement that sought to reconcile the teachings of the Church with the teachings of Aristotle. Aquinas was an important figure in the development of this movement and his works were widely read and discussed.
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- Aquinas died in 1274 at the age of He was canonized in 1323 and is now considered to be one of the most important figures in the history of philosophy. His works continue to be studied and discussed today and his influence can be seen in many areas of philosophy, theology, and ethics.
Teachings of Thomas Aquinas
- The existence of God can be proven through reason.
- Human beings have free will.
- The soul is immortal.
- The purpose of life is to know, love, and serve God.
- The ultimate end of human life is union with God.
- The natural law is the basis of morality.
- The moral law is derived from the eternal law.
- The moral law is binding on all persons.
- Human acts are judged according to their moral goodness or badness.
- Human acts are judged according to their intention.
- The human will is the source of moral action.
- The human will is subject to the dictates of reason.
- The human will is subject to the influence of grace.
- The human will is capable of choosing good or evil.
- The human will is capable of choosing the highest good.
- The human will is capable of attaining the highest good.
- The human will is capable of attaining the ultimate end of human life.
- The human will is capable of attaining the ultimate end of human life through the practice of virtue.
- The human will is capable of attaining the ultimate end of human life through the practice of faith.
- The human will is capable of attaining the ultimate end of human life through the practice of love.