Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas St. Thomas Aquinas rediscovered Aristotle in the 13 th century through Arab scholars St. Thomas Aquinas rediscovered Aristotle in the 13 th century through Arab scholars He was born into a noble family either in 1225 or He was born into a noble family either in 1225 or When he was five years old his parents placed him under the care of the Benedictines of Monte Casino. When he was five years old his parents placed him under the care of the Benedictines of Monte Casino. At the age of 18, Thomas rejected the material life and entered the Order of St. Dominic in spite of his family’s opposition. At the age of 18, Thomas rejected the material life and entered the Order of St. Dominic in spite of his family’s opposition. At the age of 22 Thomas was appointed to teach in Naples and then in Paris and finally in Rome. At the age of 22 Thomas was appointed to teach in Naples and then in Paris and finally in Rome.

Thomas Aquinas & Summa Theologica His greatest work Summa Theologica is intended as a manual for beginners in theology and a compendium of all of the main theological teachings of the Church. His greatest work Summa Theologica is intended as a manual for beginners in theology and a compendium of all of the main theological teachings of the Church. It is famous, among other things, for its five arguments for the existence of God. It is famous, among other things, for its five arguments for the existence of God. The Summa's topics follow a cycle: the existence of God; Creation, Man; Man’s purpose; Christ; the Sacraments; and back to God. The Summa's topics follow a cycle: the existence of God; Creation, Man; Man’s purpose; Christ; the Sacraments; and back to God.

Creation Man Creation’s return to God through man Christ Sacraments God

The Summa Theologica is meant to summarize the history of the cosmos and provide an outline for the meaning of life itself. This order is cyclical. It begins with God and his existence. The entire first part of the Summa deals with God and his creation, which reaches its climax in man. The second part of the Summa deals with man's purpose (the meaning of life), which is happiness. The ethics detailed in this part summarize the ethics (Aristotelian in nature) which man must follow to reach his intended destiny. Since no man on his own can truly live the perfect ethical life (and therefore reach God), it was necessary that a perfect man bridge the gap between God and man. Thus God became man - Jesus. The third part of the Summa, therefore, deals with the life of Christ. In order to follow the way prescribed by this perfect man, in order to live with God's grace (which is necessary for man's salvation), the Sacraments have been provided; the final part of the Summa considers the Sacraments.

In the end On December 6, 1273, Thomas decided that he would leave his work on the Summa Thelogica unfinished. During mass on that day he experienced an ecstasy which led him to comment, On December 6, 1273, Thomas decided that he would leave his work on the Summa Thelogica unfinished. During mass on that day he experienced an ecstasy which led him to comment, “I can do no more. Such secrets have been revealed to me that all I have written now appears to be of little value.” Thomas died while travelling to the Council of Lyons in Thomas died while travelling to the Council of Lyons in He was canonized a saint in 1323 and declared a doctor of the Church. He was canonized a saint in 1323 and declared a doctor of the Church.

Aristotle and Virtue Ethics Like Aristotle, Aquinas insisted that the ethical comes from the end that is inscribed in the nature of all creatures. What something is for is placed in the very core of what something is. At a person’s core is a desire for the good. Aquinas, as did Aristotle, equated God with the highest good. For Aquinas, however, this God is the Trinitarian God of Christianity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit.. Like Aristotle, Aquinas insisted that the ethical comes from the end that is inscribed in the nature of all creatures. What something is for is placed in the very core of what something is. At a person’s core is a desire for the good. Aquinas, as did Aristotle, equated God with the highest good. For Aquinas, however, this God is the Trinitarian God of Christianity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit..

Both Aristotle and Aquinas held that people were made for happiness. But where Aristotle connected happiness with the good life lived by a virtuous person, Aquinas added that human happiness was not fulfilled with the good life lived on earth. Because of his belief in God’s love for us as shown in Jesus, Aquinas held that there is a fuller happiness – called blessedness – that is to be found only by accepting God’s pure gift of the resurrected Christ.

Aquinas’s ethics operated on two levels:

Similarities and Differences between Aristotle and Aquinas Similar Similar Aquinas thinking as uniquely Catholic Aquinas thinking as uniquely Catholic What are the cardinal virtues? Explain why the three virtues of faith, hope and charity have no place in Aristotle’s theory?