1. Thomas Aquinas (Tommaso d’Aquino) (Italian, 1225-1274)
Aquinas: life & times
Thomas Aquinas (Tommaso d’Aquino) (Italian, )
Born near Aquino to local gentry
At age of 5 sent to the Abbey of Monte Cassino
University of Naples
Introduced to the writings of Aristotle
Aquinas: life ~ slide 1

2. Aquinas: life & times
This was a time when the writings of the ancient Greeks were beginning to become available to the Latin, Christian West
With the rise of Islam (7th century), these writings had, for the most part, been inaccessible to the West.
Aquinas: life ~ slide 2

3. Joined the Dominican order in c.1242
Aquinas: life & times
Joined the Dominican order in c.1242
Went to the University of Paris; studied under Albert the Great
1256, received license to teach at Paris
Wrote two Summa
Died on way to the Second Council of Lyons
Aquinas: life ~ slide 3

4. Turned medieval philosophy from Plato to Aristotle
Aquinas: life & times
Heritage
Turned medieval philosophy from Plato to Aristotle
Because the Council of Trent ( ) cited Aquinas as one of the leading theologian-philosophers of the Roman Church, his influence has been immense.
Aquinas: life ~ slide 4

5. Aquinas: life
Aquinas: life & times
This prominence of Aquinas & Aristotle in high & late Medieval Christian philosophy & theology played a role in the Galileo affair (1633).
Aquinas: life ~ slide 5