Introduction to Thomas Aquinas

International Catholic University video clip describing the life of Thomas Aquinas from a philosophy course by Ralph McInerny.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Thomas
• Aquinas
• Philosophy
• Catholicism
• Biography
• Medieval
• Universities
• Scholasticism

[Guinizelli777]

A very fine introduction to St. Thomas Aquinas. Excellent.

[Chenzo2323]

all your posts are belong to us

[mikelheron20]

The Swiss Guard is a fearsome fighting force. If the stripey pyjamas don't scare you they have the ultimate weapon - the Swiss Army knife!

[EmanonElazon]

Many things people have believed throughout history have been evil, today no less than in Thomas' day, and one can give reasons (however false) to support that evil. Take abortion for example...on this the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade.

[EmanonElazon]

@nef2442 And what would be said of those who disagreed with cultural norms today? We are no kinder to those who divert from cultural norms today then we ever were.

[EmanonElazon]

@joebloggington Besides, Aquinas didn't think it was right to kill heretics because they disagreed with him, he believed so because they "disagreed" with revealed Truth.

[joebloggington]

@nef2442

Yes, but as with most things, I disagree with Aquinas. The ancient Hebrews thought it was 'right' to massacre other tribes - their holy book told them to do it. And that it was 'right' to keep slaves. And Thomas Aquinas thought it was 'right' to kill heretics.

We don't believe those things now, because the culture has changed - as you so rightly said.

[nef2442]

@joebloggington Thomas Aquinas writes in Summa Theologica: Fourth Article, "The truth is the same for all but is not equally known to all; thus it is true for all that the three angles of a triangle are together equal to two right angles, although it is not known to all." (Steinberger 2000 p527). In other words, everyone is born with the ability to know right from wrong (for the most part). However, not everyone knows the truth of where that inherent ability derives from.

[joebloggington]

@nef2442

sorry - joebloggington and lowimpactorg are both me.

'right' and 'wrong' are not innate - they're cultural; you said so yourself earlier.

or do you think it's 'right' to kill people who disagree with you, like Thomas Aquinas did?

[nef2442]

@joebloggington Thomas Aquinas, St. Augustine, Aristotle, Plato, Socrates all agreed people have innate abilities to know the difference between right and wrong. This is nothing new, its actually a Biblical principle as well. "Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law" (Romans 2:14). However, they believed that the natural law is an aspect of the eternal, therefore, created by God.

[joebloggington]

@nef2442

Well, I didn't really want to get into his philosophy, which is total nonsense, largely about 'proving' that God exists - as if humans could do that.

But there were plenty of people around in the Middle Ages who knew the difference between right and wrong - for example the 'heretics' who opposed the church. You know, the ones that Saint (!) Thomas said should be killed.

(you need to read up on 'postmodern' too).