Aquinas's Incorporation of Aristotle into Christian Thought

Thomas Aquinas and the Aristotelian Synthesis

Perhaps the most important phenomenon that produced medieval philosophy was the incorporation of Aristotle into Christian thought. This process was carefully weighed, especially by St. Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas distanced himself, as much as possible, from the theses of Averroes, which prevented a true approach of Aristotle to Christianity, and elaborated a synthesis between Aristotelian philosophy and Christian faith. This meant leaving Platonism as the sole philosophical framework for Christianity. Furthermore, the reference to the primacy of Aristotle over Plato brought important consequences:

Consequences of Adopting Aristotelianism

Ascending vs. Descending Knowledge Process

The shift from the descending process of knowledge in Platonism to the ascending process based on sensation (the sensible) in Aristotle. In reality, the process starts from sensation to finally reach the universal.

Reassessment of Material Reality

The corporeal and material, including the human body, which was often undervalued in Plato, acquires true sense within Aristotelian philosophy.

Novelties in Anthropological Conception

The human being is body and soul, and the soul is not just...

Revaluation of Human Capabilities (Reason)

Reason is an autonomous source of knowledge that, when properly used, can reach a certain understanding of revealed truths.

Key Aristotelian Theses Adopted by Aquinas

To conclude, the main theses assumed by Aquinas from Aristotle are:

In the Interpretation of Nature

1. The theory of movement as the passage from potentiality to act.
2. The theory of Hylomorphism, according to which physical beings are composites of matter and form.
3. The distinction between substance and accident.
4. The theory of the four causes.

In Theology

1. The demonstration of the existence of God based on movement, which is the Prima Via Tomista (the first Thomistic way).
2. The notion of God as Pure Act, without any potentiality.

In Anthropology

The substantial unity of the soul and the body, constituting a single entity: the human being.

In Ethics (Eudaimonia)

Eudaimonic morality (or the morality of happiness). Note: This suggests that the concept of happiness is not exactly the same for Aristotle as for Christian thought.

Non-Aristotelian Principles Adopted by Aquinas

Distinction Between Essence and Existence

The non-Aristotelian principle of the distinction between essence and existence, derived from Arab and Jewish philosophy, which allows Aquinas to establish a distinction between God and all other beings.

Secondary Principle of Platonic Participation

The secondary Platonic principle of participation, which Aquinas uses to base the idea that creatures participate in the divine existence.