legendofheasty
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« on: November 19, 2009, 11:47:AM » |
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Hey folks,
Got's to write a paper for a philosophy class of sorts. I can either write about Averroes, Maimonides, or St. Thomas Aquinas. I always needed an impetus to learn a bit more about Aquinas and figure now is the perfect time. Also, after reading the 'Consolation of Philosophy', I can't get enough on Medieval Christian philosophies. I saw some other threads kind of dealing with this, but was just wondering if anyone else has any resources on how he combined Christianity and philosophy. Who influenced him, what effect did he have on the Church. Pretty much anything.
Thanks in advance!
-Heasty
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Walty
There's always a siren singing you to shipwreck.
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« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2009, 10:05:PM » |
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Oh man. This is just skimming the surface, but Thomas really borrowed heavily from the Greeks, Aristotle chiefly. He wasn't the first to do it, but he was the one who do it most famously and in the most genius way. He is seen as the champion of the Scholastic movement as he saw Faith and Reason as two things that could lead us to God together. Reason could help us deduce more about God when applied to Revelation and Revelation uplifted Reason to lofty heights it couldn't have reached on its own.
Once you take these presuppositions into account you can start to understand Thomas. He was meticulous, studying God in a much more systematic and rational way than had been done before. There is no theologian who has influenced the Church more than Thomas.
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----------------------------  ---------------------------- ---------------------------Lámh Dhearg Abu--------------------------- This is my hand. I can turn it. The blood is still running in it. The sun is still in the sky and the wind is blowing. And I... I, Antonius Block, play chess with Death. |
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Oldavid
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« Reply #2 on: November 19, 2009, 11:14:PM » |
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He was meticulous allright.
He didn't so much "borrow" from Aristotle but was rather standing on his shoulders. Much can be known about the world "by the light of natural reason". S Tom didn't try to re-invent what Aristotle had already done; he merely applied it to Christian revelation. No conflict of interest.
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Walty
There's always a siren singing you to shipwreck.
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« Reply #3 on: November 19, 2009, 11:47:PM » |
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He was meticulous allright.
He didn't so much "borrow" from Aristotle but was rather standing on his shoulders. Much can be known about the world "by the light of natural reason". S Tom didn't try to re-invent what Aristotle had already done; he merely applied it to Christian revelation. No conflict of interest.
He definitely tweaked a lot of Aristotelian themes though. Some of it had to be changed here or there. |
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---------------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------Lámh Dhearg Abu--------------------------- This is my hand. I can turn it. The blood is still running in it. The sun is still in the sky and the wind is blowing. And I... I, Antonius Block, play chess with Death. |
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Oldavid
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« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2009, 12:12:AM » |
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No doubt.
Aristotle didn't have Christian revelation to urge or point him in the right direction. He did the best he could with what was available to him. He must have been an honest man; he did very well with what he had to work on.
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Benno
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« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2009, 01:37:AM » |
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Don't take any "pre-suppositions" into account about Aquinas, Aristotle or anyone. Read the original, and react to and support it, because they were right some way or another. More right than your tosser lecturers any way.
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veritatem_dilexisti
Cheese-Eating Surrender Trad
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Sip sip
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« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2009, 06:13:AM » |
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Fr Frederick Copleston's Aquinas would be a good starting point.
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Walty
There's always a siren singing you to shipwreck.
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« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2009, 08:36:AM » |
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Don't take any "pre-suppositions" into account about Aquinas, Aristotle or anyone. Read the original, and react to and support it, because they were right some way or another. More right than your tosser lecturers any way.
Yes, I most definitely agree with you there. I only go to the original texts both in and outside of formal studies. |
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---------------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------Lámh Dhearg Abu--------------------------- This is my hand. I can turn it. The blood is still running in it. The sun is still in the sky and the wind is blowing. And I... I, Antonius Block, play chess with Death. |
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Walty
There's always a siren singing you to shipwreck.
Gender:
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Posts: 5,061
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« Reply #9 on: November 20, 2009, 08:37:AM » |
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No doubt.
Aristotle didn't have Christian revelation to urge or point him in the right direction. He did the best he could with what was available to him. He must have been an honest man; he did very well with what he had to work on.
Just my opinion, but I think he's in heaven. |
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---------------------------- ---------------------------- ---------------------------Lámh Dhearg Abu--------------------------- This is my hand. I can turn it. The blood is still running in it. The sun is still in the sky and the wind is blowing. And I... I, Antonius Block, play chess with Death. |
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Oldavid
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« Reply #10 on: December 21, 2009, 10:38:PM » |
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Yes, but why should it stop there........It's not the end of the story.
Real philosophy is more relevant now than ever before......I mean that "nowadays" any silly idea is published as " a philosophy"........shouldn't we challenge that silly idea?
I admit that who, where, how should definitely be considered........but , cripes, the Church Militant ought to be doing something.
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