PHIL 340: Thomas Aquinas

The Generic Catalog Description

A study of the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas, including his life and works as well as the medieval context.

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PHIL 340: Thomas Aquinas

Ardis Collins

The course begins with an introduction to the cultural, philosophical and theological context in which Aquinas developed his thought, followed immediately by an introduction to the basic principles of his philosophy.  With these introductory elements in place, the course focuses on the metaphysical issues that Aquinas addressed in his dialogue with Islamic thought.  In this dialogue, certain classical philosophical questions become associated with religious ideas derived from Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.  Platonic ideals and Aristotelian causes become transformed by questions raised by the religious doctrine of creation.  Knowledge and virtue questions become transformed by freedom and responsibility questions introduced by the religious concern with divine justice.  Knowledge questions become transformed by religion’s belief that the ultimate purpose of human life is union with a being who is transcendent, infinite truth.

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