1. Faith and Reason united
Scholasticism:
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
CVSP 202 General Lecture
Monday, April 1, 2019
Hani Hassan
Faith and Reason united
by German painter Ludwig Seitz (1844–1908)
The inscription: “divinarum veritatum splendor, animo exceptus, ipsam juvat intelligentiam” is from Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Aeterni Patris, 1879, and it translates:
“The splendor of the divine truths, received into the mind, helps the understanding”

2. Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Scholastic: “from Middle French scholastique, from Latin scholasticus "learned," from Greek skholastikos "studious, learned"”
[Source: Online Etymology Dictionary (
Came to be associated with the ‘teachers’ and churchmen in European Universities whose work was generally rooted in Aristotle and the Church Fathers.

3. Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
“That superstitious and senseless race of professors who make their pupils swear never to contradict Aristotle.”
(Laurentius Valla, 15th Century Italian Humanist)
“Three centuries at the bottom of that gloomy abyss did not add a single idea to man's intellectual inheritance.”
(Hippolyte Taine, 19th Century French critic and historian)

4. Bring together a group of scholars to study and translate the corpus
Scholasticism, aka The Medieval Synthesis
Procure the corpus, and make sure that no word of such discovery gets out until you can figure out what to do with it.
Make sure that no word of such a discovery ever gets out, and destroy the corpus
Bring together a group of scholars to study and translate the corpus
Procure the corpus and sell it to the highest bidder

5. Scholasticism, aka The Medieval Synthesis
Make a public announcement of the discovery and its contents, urging all people to re-examine their accepted world-view
Burn all the manuscripts, and brand anyone who would mention them and their content as a ‘criminal’ of sorts
Continue studying further, and seek out from them what may indeed be of much use
Cover up the fact of their having been translated, pretend they just got discovered, and sell to the highest bidder

6. Historic City of Toledo
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Historic City of Toledo
(Listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Toledo Cathedral, housed the translators in the 12th Century

7. From Toledo to Provence and thereon to Palermo
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
From Toledo to Provence and thereon to Palermo
Route from Toledo, through Provence, to Palermo as suggested by Google maps;
Distance (following main roads by car): Km

8. Thought to be that of William of Moerbeke
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Translation of Aristotle’s Metaphysica, Physica, and De Meteoris, 13th century,
Thought to be that of William of Moerbeke

9. The common people of Toledo The political powers in Toledo
Scholasticism, aka The Medieval Synthesis
The common people of Toledo
The political powers in Toledo
The Archbishop of Toledo
The Scholars and school- men of Toledo

10. Historic City of Toledo
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Historic City of Toledo
(Listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Toledo Cathedral, housed the translators in the 12th Century

11. Boethius’ Consolation of Philosophy, John Scotus Eriugena
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Boethius
(early 6th Century)
Boethius’ Consolation of Philosophy,
(15th Century copy)
John Scotus Eriugena
(9th Century)
wears-two-shoes.html
-theism-and-martyrs-humanism/
Christ wears 'two shoes' in the world: scripture and nature.  Both are necessary to understand the Lord, and at no stage can creation be seen as a separation of things from God. (Eriugena)
_commons/ /

12. Illustrating the Christian Faith,
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Anselm
(11th Century)
according-to-st-anselm-of.html
Illustrating the Christian Faith,
in St. Anselm's 'Similitudes' and Other Works (1225)

13. Portrait of Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln (13th Century)
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Abelard
(12th Century)
Portrait of Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln (13th Century)
Produced in England - 13th century

14. Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis

15. Pope Leo XIII Thomas Aquinas Augustine of Hippo Averroes (Ibn Rushd)
Scholasticism, aka The Medieval Synthesis
Review question: Who is featured on both sides in the background of the painting by Ludwig Seitz that we made reference to at the outset of today’s presentation?
Pope Leo XIII
Thomas Aquinas
Augustine of Hippo
Averroes (Ibn Rushd)

16. St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Pars Secundus, Secundus Liber.
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Aquinas
St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Pars Secundus, Secundus Liber.
[Strasbourg: Johann Mentelin, before Advent 1463].
HIGHLIGHTS.Theology2.htm

17. Thomas Aquinas (Tomasso D’Aquino): Born: 1225, Aquino - Southern Italy
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Thomas Aquinas (Tomasso D’Aquino):
Born: 1225, Aquino - Southern Italy
Went to Paris as a student in 1245, where for 3 years he attended the lectures Albertus Magnus.
Ordained in 1250, and soon after given a teaching position in Paris
He returned to Paris in 1253 and worked towards his Doctor of Theology, which he received in 1257
Central influence on the development of Scholasticism
The Summa Theologiae left unfinished, following a profound ‘revelationary’ experience in 1273, in light of which he abandons writing, explaining to his secretary (Brother Reginald): “I can write no more. All that I have written seems like straw.”
Died: (canonized 1323)

18. Book One: Of God – 102 Chapters Book Two: Of Creation – 101 Chapters
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Summa contra Gentiles
Four Books
Book One: Of God – 102 Chapters
Book Two: Of Creation – 101 Chapters
Book Three: Of Providence – 163 Chapters
Book Four: Of Salvation – 97 Chapters

19. Book One: Of God – 102 Chapters Sample chapter titles –
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Summa contra Gentiles
Book One: Of God – 102 Chapters
Sample chapter titles –
Ch. 13 Arguments in Proof of the Existence of God
Ch. 20 That God is not a Body
Ch. 21 That God is His Essence
Ch. 23 That no Accident is Found in God
Ch. 42 That God is One
Ch. 65 That God Knows singulars
Ch. 72 That God has Will
Ch. 95 That God Cannot Will Evil

20. Your reading selections:
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Book One: Of God
Your reading selections:
Ch. 2: The Author’s Intention in the Present Work
Ch. 3: On the Way in Which Divine Truth is to be Made Known
Ch. 4: That the Truth about God to Which the Natural Reason Reaches is Fittingly Proposed to Men for Belief
Ch. 5: That the Truths the Human Reason is not Able to Investigate are Fittingly Proposed to Men for Belief
Ch. 6: That to Give Assent to the Truths of Faith is not Foolishness Even Though They are Above reason
Ch. 7: That the Truth of Reason is not Opposed to the Truth of the Christian Faith
Ch. 8: How the Human Reason is Related to the Truth of Faith
Ch. 9: The Order and Manner of Procedure in the Present Work
Summa contra Gentiles

21. THE AUTHOR'S INTENTION IN THE PRESENT WORK
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Summa contra Gentiles
Ch. II
THE AUTHOR'S INTENTION IN THE PRESENT WORK
AMONG all human pursuits, the pursuit of wisdom is more perfect, more noble, more useful, and more full of joy.
It is more perfect because, in so far as a man gives himself to the pursuit of wisdom, so far does he even now have some share in true beatitude…
It is more noble because through this pursuit man especially approaches to a likeness to God Who "made all things in wisdom" (Ps. 103:24). And since likeness is the cause of love, the pursuit of wisdom especially joins man to God in friendship...
It is more useful because through wisdom we arrive at the kingdom of immortality…
It is more full of joy because "her conversation hath no bitterness, nor her company any tediousness, but joy and gladness" (Wis. 7:16).

22. THE AUTHOR'S INTENTION IN THE PRESENT WORK
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Summa contra Gentiles
Ch. II
THE AUTHOR'S INTENTION IN THE PRESENT WORK
And so, in the name of the divine Mercy, I have the confidence to embark upon the work of a wise man, even though this may surpass my powers, and I have set myself the task of making known, as far as my limited powers will allow, the truth that the Catholic faith professes, and of setting aside the errors that are opposed to it.

23. ON THE WAY IN WHICH DIVINE TRUTH IS TO BE MADE KNOWN
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Summa contra Gentiles
Ch. III
ON THE WAY IN WHICH DIVINE TRUTH IS TO BE MADE KNOWN
The way of making truth known is not always the same, and, as the Philosopher has very well said, "it belongs to an educated man to seek such certitude in each thing as the nature of that thing allows.“
[…]
There is a twofold mode of truth in what we profess about God. Some truths about God exceed all the ability of the human reason. Such is the truth that God is triune. But there are some truths which the natural reason also is able to reach. Such are that God exists, that He is one, and the like. In fact, such truths about God have been proved demonstratively by the philosophers, guided by the light of the natural reason

24. Plato Aristotle Augustine of Hippo Averroes (Ibn Rushd)
Scholasticism, aka The Medieval Synthesis
Review question: Who is featured on both sides in the background of the painting by Ludwig Seitz that we made reference to at the outset of today’s presentation?
Throughout his work, Thomas Aquinas will at numerous places be referring to “the Philosopher”. Who do you think he means by this reference?
Plato
Aristotle
Augustine of Hippo
Averroes (Ibn Rushd)

25. Summa Theologiae Three Parts, a Supplement, and Two Appendices
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Summa Theologiae
Three Parts, a Supplement, and Two Appendices
Part One: (Eight Treatises) – 119 Questions
Part Two, in Two Parts: (Fifteen Treatises) – Questions
Part Three: (Seven Treatises) – 90 Questions
Supplement: (Five Treatises & 2 Appendices) Questions

26. Sample questions addressed –
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Summa Theologiae
Sample questions addressed –
First Part: 11. The Unity of God, 13. The Names of God, The Power of God
First part of the Second Part: 3. What is Happiness, 27. Of the Cause of Love, 79. Of the External Causes of Sin,
Second Part of the Second Part: 23. Of Charity, Considered in Itself, 45. Of the Gift of Wisdom, 58. Of Justice, 148. Of Gluttony, Of the Grace of Miracles
Third Part: 17. Of Christ's Unity of Being, 56. Of the Causality of Christ's Resurrection, 69. Of the Effects of Baptism 
Supplement: 7. Of the Nature of Confession, 42. Of Matrimony As a Sacrament 

27. Question II: The Existence of God
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Summa Theologiae
First Part
Question II: The Existence of God
(In Three Articles)
“(1) Whether the proposition God exists is self-evident? (2) Whether it is demonstrable? (3) Whether God exists?”

28. WHETHER THE EXISTENCE OF GOD IS SELF‑EVIDENT?
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Summa Theologiae
First Article
WHETHER THE EXISTENCE OF GOD IS SELF‑EVIDENT?
Three objections:
First: “The Knowledge of God is naturally implanted in all” (John of Damascus, or John Damascene)
Second: “as soon as the name God is understood it exists mentally, it also follows that it exists actually.”
Third: “if there is anything true, there must be truth. But God is truth itself: I am the way, the truth, and the life (Jo. xiv.6). Therefore God exists is self‑evident.”

29. Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Summa Theologiae
“But the opposite of the proposition God is can be mentally admitted: The fool said in his heart, There is no God (Ps. Iii.1). Therefore, that God exists is not self-evident.”

30. Aquinas’ Three Replies:
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Summa Theologiae
Aquinas’ Three Replies:
To the First objection: “To know that God exists in a general and confused way is implanted in us by nature […] This, however, is not to know absolutely that God exists”
To the Second: “Perhaps not everyone who hears this name God understands it to signify something than which nothing greater can be thought, seeing that some have believed God to be a body”
To the Third: “The existence of truth in general is self-evident, but the existence of a Primal Truth is not self-evident to us.”

31. WHETHER IT CAN BE DEMONSTRATED THAT GOD EXISTS?
Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Summa Theologiae
Second Article
WHETHER IT CAN BE DEMONSTRATED THAT GOD EXISTS?
Three objections:
First: “…it is an article of faith that God exists. But what is of faith cannot be demonstrated.”
Second: “is the middle term of demonstration. But we cannot know in what God's essence consists […] Therefore we cannot demonstrate that God exists.”
Third: “…since a cause cannot be demonstrated by an effect not proportioned to it, it seems that the existence of God cannot be demonstrated.”

32. Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
Summa Theologiae
“When an effect is better known to us than its cause, from the effect we proceed to the knowledge of the cause. And from every effect the existence of its proper cause can be demonstrated, so long as its effects are better known to us.”

33. Tommaso d'Aquino and the Medieval Synthesis
“In reliving the Aristotelian Revolution, we understand that we are not just the children of Copernicus and Galileo, Adam Smith, and Thomas Jefferson, but Aristotle’s children: the heirs of a medieval tradition that seems more intriguing and inspiring as the shortcomings of modernity become clearer. Of course, most of us would not return to the Middle Ages if we could. Few people today would embrace the assumptions and conclusions of the medieval scholastics. But the Aristotelian’s quest for meaning is also ours, and we have much to learn from their vision of a science infused by ethics and a religion unafraid of reason. In this little known but formative chapter of our history, we may detect hints of a more humane and integrated global future.”
From the preface to Aristotle’s Children, by Richard Rubenstein, 2003.