Pope Pius X in 1914 emphasized that understanding the Church's teachings requires knowingThomas's fundamental ideas. According to him, these ideas are like the solid base for understanding bothnatural anddivine things. If these principles are ignored, it becomes hard for students to grasp the meanings of the Church's teachings.[1]
Thomas Aquinas believed in accepting truth from any source. He combined ideas fromGreek,Roman,Islamic, andJewish philosophers. He was a realist, meaning he thought theworld could be known as it is.[2]Thomas often supportedAristotle's views and used Aristotle's terms and ideas. He also followed someneoplatonic principles, such as the belief in God as the essential being and everything being good by participating in this essential goodness.[3]
Aquinas changed the direction ofScholasticism, moving it fromneoplatonism toAristotle's ideas. This shift had a big impact onCatholicism and the ethics of the Catholic school, making it one of the most influential philosophies ever. Many people follow its teachings.[4]
However, during Aquinas' time, some of his ideas were banned inParis byBishop Stephen Tempier, and some were condemned by ecclesiastical authorities in 1277. The Franciscan Order opposed Aquinas, while the Dominicans defended his work. Early critics included William de la Mare, Henry of Ghent, Giles of Rome, and Jon Duns Scotus. On the other hand, defenders includedAlbertus Magnus, Richard Knapwell, William Macclesfeld, Giles of Lessines, John of Quidort, Bernard of Auvergne, and Thomas of Sutton.[5]
Aquinas was canonized in 1323, and the condemnation of 1277 was revoked. Later, Thomism faced challenges from the via moderna, especially fromWilliam of Ockham and followers.Dominican theologians mainly held on to Thomism, and it gained strength in the 16th century in theIberian Peninsula, with figures likeFrancisco de Vitoria, Domingo de Soto, John of St. Thomas, Domingo Báñez, and others.[6]
In the modern period,Pope Leo XIII tried to revive Thomism with the encyclical Aeterni Patris in 1879. This led to Neothomism, which emphasized the ethical aspects of Thomism. It dominated theRoman Catholic Church until the Second Vatican Council. Thomism is still an influential philosophy inCatholicism today, although the Church does not favor one philosophy over others.[7]
In recent times, the cognitive neuroscientist Walter Freeman suggests that Thomism is a philosophical system that aligns well with the understanding of cognition inneuroscience.[8]
↑W Julian Korab-Karpowicz (2015).On the History of Political Philosophy: Great Political Thinkers from Thucydides to Lockep. Routledge. p. 95.ISBN9781317346012.
↑Cessario, Romanus (2005).A short history of Thomism. Washington, D. C: Catholic University of America Press.ISBN978-0-8132-1386-6.
↑Hinson, E. Glenn (1995).The Church triumphant: a history of Christianity up to 1300. Macon, Ga: Mercer Univ. Press.ISBN978-0-86554-436-9.
