Philosopher Report on St. Thomas Aquinas
Thomas Aquinas was born in 1224 and died in 1274. He wrote The Summa Theologica, in which he creates a huge system integrating Greek philosophy with the Christian faith. It consists of three parts; God, “he gives five proofs for God's existence as well as an explication of His attributes”1, ethics, “connection between the virtuous man and God by explaining how the virtuous act is one towards the blessedness of the Beatific Vision (beata visio)”2 and Christ, “Christ not only offers salvation, but represents and protects humanity on Earth and in Heaven”3. He wrote a shorter version Summa contra Gentiles, he writes an answer to the question of what human happiness is, and whether or not it can be a part of life. His answer is that perfect happiness (beatitudo) cannot be on earth, but an imperfect happiness (felicitas) can be. He thought complete happiness was potential in life.
Thomas Aquinas was born in the castle of Roccasecca, north of Naples, to a rich upper-class family. After studying at the University of Naples, “he secretly joined an order of Dominican monks”4. He entered the Dominican order and studied with Albertus Magnus (also known as Albert the Great), who had started the great project to include all his knowledge of Christianity. This meant not being afraid of experimental science or the contributions of the great Arabic philosophers, who had already shaped the philosophy of Plato and Aristotle with their Muslim faith. Aquinas was so silent in class, that he was called “The Dumb Ox” by his fellow students. Albert replied saying, "We call this young man a dumb ox, but his bellowing in doctrine will one day resound throughout the world!"5
Aquinas became a lecturer to many Dominican houses in Italy, but his real task was the masterpiece, his Summa Theologica, which is a book devoted to the question of happiness. For twenty years Aquinas worked on his book, but on a night in December 1273 after celebrating Mass he went through a spiritual dream that
Thomas Aquinas was born in the castle of Roccasecca, north of Naples, to a rich upper-class family. After studying at the University of Naples, “he secretly joined an order of Dominican monks”4. He entered the Dominican order and studied with Albertus Magnus (also known as Albert the Great), who had started the great project to include all his knowledge of Christianity. This meant not being afraid of experimental science or the contributions of the great Arabic philosophers, who had already shaped the philosophy of Plato and Aristotle with their Muslim faith. Aquinas was so silent in class, that he was called “The Dumb Ox” by his fellow students. Albert replied saying, "We call this young man a dumb ox, but his bellowing in doctrine will one day resound throughout the world!"5
Aquinas became a lecturer to many Dominican houses in Italy, but his real task was the masterpiece, his Summa Theologica, which is a book devoted to the question of happiness. For twenty years Aquinas worked on his book, but on a night in December 1273 after celebrating Mass he went through a spiritual dream that