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Aquinas for Beginners: A Comprehensive Guide to the Life, Works, and Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas

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Portrait Of St. Thomas Aquinas Aquinas: A Beginner S Guide (Beginner S Guides)

St. Thomas Aquinas (c. 1225 – 1274) was a Dominican friar, philosopher, and theologian who is considered one of the most influential thinkers in the history of Western thought. His writings on theology, philosophy, and metaphysics have had a profound impact on Christian thought, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest minds of the medieval period.

Aquinas: A Beginner's Guide (Beginner's Guides)

by Edward Feser

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Print length	:	239 pages

Life and Education

Thomas Aquinas was born in Roccasecca, Italy, around 1225. As a young man, he entered the Dominican Order, which had been founded just a few years earlier. His superiors recognized his intellectual brilliance and sent him to study at the University of Paris, where he eventually became a professor of theology.

Aquinas's philosophical and theological writings are known for their clarity, precision, and comprehensiveness. He was a master of the Aristotelian tradition, and his work represents a synthesis of Greek philosophy with Christian theology.

Major Works

Aquinas wrote extensively on a wide range of topics, including metaphysics, ethics, politics, and theology. Some of his most important works include:

Summa Theologica: A comprehensive treatise on Christian theology, which covers a wide range of topics, including God, creation, angels, humans, and salvation.
Summa Contra Gentiles: A work written to defend Christian theology against the objections of non-believers.
On Being and Essence: A philosophical treatise on the nature of being and existence.
Disputed Questions on Truth: A work in which Aquinas explores the nature of truth and its relationship to knowledge and belief.

Philosophy

Aquinas's philosophy is based on the principle that God is the ultimate cause of all things. He argued that the universe is rational and orderly, and that human beings can come to understand the natural world through reason.

Aquinas was a strong advocate for the use of reason in theology. He believed that faith and reason are not incompatible, but rather that they complement each other. He argued that reason can help us to understand the truths of faith, and that faith can help us to understand the limits of reason.

Ethics

Aquinas's ethical theory is based on the principle that the ultimate goal of human life is happiness. He believed that happiness can only be achieved through the pursuit of virtue, and that virtue is the habit of choosing the good. Aquinas's ethics are based on the natural law, which is the set of moral principles that are universally valid for all human beings.

Legacy

Aquinas's work has had a profound impact on Western thought. His writings have been studied by scholars for centuries, and his ideas have influenced a wide range of fields, including philosophy, theology, ethics, and politics. Aquinas is considered one of the most important thinkers in the history of the Catholic Church, and his writings continue to be a source of inspiration and guidance for Christians today.

St. Thomas Aquinas was a brilliant philosopher and theologian whose work has had a profound impact on Western thought. His writings on theology, philosophy, and ethics are still studied and admired today. Aquinas's legacy is a testament to his intellectual brilliance and his unwavering commitment to the pursuit of truth.

Aquinas: A Beginner's Guide (Beginner's Guides)

by Edward Feser

4.6 out of 5