Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Stilpo, J.R. Mayer and Thomas Aquinas

unexpand these ideas     |    start again     |     choose another area for these philosophers

display all the ideas for this combination of philosophers

---

8 ideas

29. Religion / B. Monotheistic Religion / 4. Christianity / a. Christianity

20211	Life aims at the Beatific Vision - of perfect happiness, and revealed truth [Aquinas, by Zagzebski]
	Full Idea: Aquinas describes the ultimate end of human life as the Beatific Vision, a state that is simultaneously the enjoyment of perfect happiness and a perfect revelation of truth.
	From: report of Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologicae [1265]) by Linda Trinkaus Zagzebski - Virtues of the Mind II 4.2
	A reaction: I like that a lot, even though my idea of the revelation of truth is very distant from that of Aquinas. Ignorant happiness is not much of an aspiration.

29. Religion / B. Monotheistic Religion / 4. Christianity / c. Angels

22106	Aquinas saw angels as separated forms, rather than as made of 'spiritual matter' [Aquinas, by Kretzmann/Stump]
	Full Idea: Unlike some of his contemporaries, Aquinas does not think that there is a 'spiritual matter' that angels or disembodied souls have as one of their components, but rather that they are separated forms that configure no matter at all.
	From: report of Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologicae [1265]) by Kretzmann/Stump - Aquinas, Thomas 10
	A reaction: 'Separated forms' sounds like the modern concept of abstract entities, meaning that souls and angels exist in the way that platonists believe numbers exist. How else might Aquinas have understood them?

29. Religion / B. Monotheistic Religion / 4. Christianity / d. Heresy

16711	Heretics should be eradicated like wolves [Aquinas]
	Full Idea: Heretics are wolves …and therefore ought to be eradicated.
	From: Thomas Aquinas (Sentences [1264], IV.13.2.3sc), quoted by Robert Pasnau - Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671 20.2

29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 2. Immortality / a. Immortality

1863	If the soul achieves well-being in another life, it doesn't follow that I do [Aquinas]
	Full Idea: Even if soul achieves well-being in another life, that doesn't mean I do or any other human being does.
	From: Thomas Aquinas (Super Epistolam Pauli Apostoli [1272])

23306	Humans have a non-physical faculty of reason, so they can be immortal [Aquinas, by Sorabji]
	Full Idea: Aquinas infers from Aristotle that intellectual understanding is the only operation of the soul that is performed without a physical organ, so that only human souls, and not animal ones, can be immortal.
	From: report of Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologicae [1265], I, q75, a3, resp) by Richard Sorabji - Rationality 'Reason'
	A reaction: This shows why so many thinkers are desperate to hang on to dualism, of some sort. Interesting that he only claims partial dualism.

29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 2. Immortality / d. Heaven

4412	Those in bliss have their happiness increased by seeing the damned punished [Aquinas]
	Full Idea: In order that the bliss of the saints may be more delightful for them, and they may render more copious thanks to God for it, it is given to them to see perfectly the punishment of the damned.
	From: Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologicae [1265], III Supp Q94,1), quoted by Friedrich Nietzsche - On the Genealogy of Morals I.§15
	A reaction: This has probably been repudiated by the Church of England. Justice should be seen to be done. Presumably you mustn't gloat, or you join them.

29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 3. Problem of Evil / a. Problem of Evil

21266	God does not exist, because He is infinite and good, and so no evil should be discoverable [Aquinas]
	Full Idea: If one of two contraries be infinite, the other would be altogether destroyed. But the name God means that He is infinite goodness. If therefore God existed there would be no evil discoverable; but there is evil in the world. Therefore God does not exist.
	From: Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologicae [1265], Ia,Q02,Art3,Ob1)
	A reaction: This is not, of course, the opinion of Aquinas. I love the way he states the opposition's arguments so lucidly. The modern problem usually talks of God's omnipotence, rather than infinity. His formulation allows that there might be undiscoverable evil.

21274	It is part of God's supreme goodness that He brings good even out of evil [Aquinas]
	Full Idea: As Augustine says, God would not allow any evil to exist in his works, unless he were to bring good even out of evil. It is part of the infinite goodness of God, that He allows evil to exist and out of it produces good.
	From: Thomas Aquinas (Summa Theologicae [1265], Ia,Q02,Art3,Ob1rep)
	A reaction: Are God's powers so limited that He could not have achieved an equal amount of good without having to indulge in some evil first?