Anthony Kenny on Medieval Philosophy: Section 3

Medieval Philosophy: Thomas Aquinas

This program examines the ideas of the medieval philosophic theologians, particularly St. Thomas Aquinas. Oxford medieval philosopher Anthony Kenny discusses Aristotelian logic as the basis of Aquinas' thought, and disputes charges that medieval philosophy merely reinforced extant Christian views. Logical methods employed by Aquinas are discussed as precursors of the scientific methodology of later philosophers, such as Descartes.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Bryan
• Magee
• Anthony
• Kenny
• Philosophy
• Medieval
• Thomas
• Aquinas
• Aristotelian
• Logic

[ammazzamoro]

A quick clarifying point cleaning the muddied waters: Wycliffe isn't the last of the schoolmen. Rather the last of the schoolmen is Denis the Carthusian, Doctor Ecstaticus. 

[leconfidant]

@entropia34332 You can say what you want about them, but the hard fact is, after the collapse of the Roman Empire, the only people willing or capable of preserving Plato, Aristotle, or any written knowledge of any kind were the Christian Church.

[2000deg]

I'm glad you like it.

[Newgrange73]

Thanks a million for your suggestion. I bought Volume 1. There's a lot in that - how did this guy write another 10 and still have time to breath!! Thanks again.

[2000deg]

@Newgrange73 If you are interested in the history of philosophy, i would recommend you "History of Philosophy" by Fredrick Copleston in 11 volumes. You can read a limeted preview at google books. It is written in a very clear languange, and explains many complex ideas (e.g. Kant) in a way that is relativly easy to understand.

[Newgrange73]

I've watched this series in full now, and what brilliant stuff. I'm a first year philosophy student and the lecturer we had to endure this semester was just horrid!! Thank you to whoever produced it... I'm hoping I passed my exam today, and if i did, it is thanks to this series, I only discovered two days ago.

[RationalEmotive]

>aristoteles and his christian clown,thomas d'aquino

Ok, you have just disqualified yourself from any serious dialogue about the history of philosophy. There is no connection. Aquinas lived later and incorporated some elements of Aristotle in his philosophy.

Anyways, what is your point? No one is debating Aquinas' philosophy today. We just know a whole lot more than then. What counts is that his philosophy has had a significant influence on Western thought, as opposed to yours.

[neothomist1275]

How many of our noble modern creeds are not an extension or (what is more often the case) a deformation of Christian substance?

Heritage is humanity itself.

[neothomist1275]

"The paradox of pluralism is still a problem"

Yes, 'You MUST be openminded!" ;)

[Thomistica]

"...you acusing me of dogmatism is part of the irony democracy entails."

The paradox of pluralism is still a problem. It isn't solved by you merely calling it "irony" and going about your merry pluralistic way.