But since he has been so influential, it is reasonable to suppose that whatever worthwhile ideas he had, have been long absorbed by subsequent writers. It is admittedly not impossible that Aquinas did have some beneficial and original ideas. I cannot, therefore, feel that deserves to be put on a level with the best philosophers either of Greece or of modern times. Phil.), The findings of arguments for a conclusion given in advance is not philosophy, but special pleading. Thus it is less noble to merely synthesize the thoughts of others. Yet the purpose of philosophy is to follow one’s own reason. But this means that he had no original doctrines, and merely adopted them from elsewhere.

The purpose of Aquinas’s philosophy was to combine the doctrines of Aristotle with those of the Catholic church. But this school of philosophy is now known to have stifled free intellectual inquiry for hundreds of years, impeding intellectual progress (cf. Thomas Aquinas is now considered the culmination of Medieval scholastic philosophy. Furthermore, religion is now known to cause social evils and injustices, including the intolerance and bigotry that thrives in the present day. But as proved by modern science and subsequent philosophy, religion is false (cf. Thomas Aquinas was a Christian philosopher and theologian. Further, the state of scientific knowledge was much less advanced at that time then now, so it is impossible that there can be found any insight into the nature of things. Thus, whatever philosophy is contained in this book is long outdated. The Summa Theologica was written over 700 years ago (1265-1274). Whether One Should Read the Summa Theologica? Augustine's Press ( clickĪre welcome, no matter what their nature.ARTICLE 1. Likewise, a slightly earlier version of The Treatise on Human Nature (Part 1, questionsħ5-102) came out in book form in 2010 from St.

A slightly earlier version of the Treatise on Law (Part 1-2, questions 90-108) came out in book form in 2009 from St.

Say, I'm constantly revising them as I re-read them. Part 1 and Part 1-2 are complete in a loose sense. The latest versions are those available here on any given day. Latest drafts of the various questions, I make them available Translating the whole of the Summa Theologiae.Įver finish? Well, at least I have started.

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