Thomas Aquinas

Thomas Aquinas (1225 – March 7, 1274) was an Italian Catholic philosopher and theologian in the scholastic tradition. He gave birth to the Thomistic school of philosophy, which was long the primary philosophical approach of the Roman Catholic Church. He is considered by the Catholic Church to be its greatest theologian and one of the thirty-three Doctors of the Church. Institutions of learning named for him are the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri, St. Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick, the University of Saint Thomas, Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, California University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Aquinas College in Stockport, England, Aquinas College in Perth, Western Australia, and the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, the Philippines.

Modern criticism

Some of Thomas's ethical conclusions are at odds with the majority view in the contemporary West. For example, he held that heresy could be punished by death, in ST II:II 11:3, an opinion now repudiated by the Catholic Church, but for many years held and practiced. He also maintained the intellectual inferiority of women and their subjection to men on that account (ST I:92:1), which is one reason why he opposed the ordination of women (ST Supp. 39:1). He also held that parents have the right to physically discipline their children. (ST II:II 65:2)

Related Topics:
Heresy - Ordination of women

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Conflict between Aquinas's view and the majority contemporary ethical view make Aquinas's position philosophically questionable if and only if the contemporary ethical view can be philosophically shown to be the correct one. However, since some of his teachings would not now be maintained by the Church, the contemporary view would seem to have been shown correct in at least those cases.

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On the other hand, many modern ethicists, both within and outside of the Catholic Church, have recently become very excited about Aquinas's virtue ethics, notably Philippa Foot and Alasdair MacIntyre, as a way of avoiding utilitarianism or Kantian deontology. Through the work of 20th century philosophers such as Elizabeth Anscombe (especially in her book Intention), Aquinas's Principle of double effect specifically and his theory of intentional activity generally have been influential.

Related Topics:
Philippa Foot - Alasdair MacIntyre - Utilitarianism - Deontology - Elizabeth Anscombe - Principle of double effect

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Modern readers might also find the method frequently used to reconcile Christian and Aristotelian doctrine rather strenuous. In some cases, the conflict is resolved by showing that a certain term actually has two meanings, the Christian doctrine referring to one meaning, the Aristotelian to the second. Thus, both doctrines can be said to be true. Indeed, noting distinctions is a necessary part of true philosophical inquiry. In most cases, Aquinas finds a reading of the Aristotelian text which might not always satisfy modern scholars of Aristotle but which is a plausible rendering of the Philosopher's meaning and thoroughly Christian.

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Many biographies of Aquinas have been written over the centuries; perhaps the most notable is that by G. K. Chesterton.

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