Thomas Aquinas: Reason, Faith, and Scholastic Philosophy

The Enduring Legacy of Thomas Aquinas

Early Opposition and the Rise of Thomism

Following the death of Thomas Aquinas, his philosophy faced significant opposition, particularly from the Franciscans. They regarded Saint Augustine as the most faithful exponent of the Christian view. This opposition culminated in the condemnation of certain Thomistic doctrines by ecclesiastical authorities in Paris and Oxford in 1277. However, it soon became clear that these fears were unfounded. Following the canonization of Saint Thomas in 1323, Thomism expanded significantly, becoming a dominant intellectual force.

Reason and Faith: Aquinas Versus Augustine

A central theme in medieval philosophy is the ongoing debate between reason and faith. Thomas Aquinas, unlike some other scholars, granted reason its own autonomy in matters not derived from divine revelation. While his approach was conciliatory, it was not the only perspective. In contrast, Saint Augustine saw no strict boundaries between reason and faith. His famous dictum, "Credo ut intelligam" (I believe in order to understand), illustrates his view that reason serves faith. Reason, for Augustine, aids in clarifying the contents of faith and reaching truth.

Augustine's Divine Illumination Theory

For Augustine, divine illumination was essential for true knowledge. He posited that knowledge is only possible when the human mind receives assistance from divine understanding, metaphorically described as a divine light. Thus, God is the ultimate source of truth and knowledge. Human beings attain true knowledge through a point of contact with "the Truth" within their reason or soul, which is an image of God, leading to divine illumination. This theory, which also serves as a demonstration of God's existence and shows Platonic influences (e.g., the theory of reminiscence), contrasts sharply with the Aristotelian-Thomistic approach to proving God's existence. The latter minimizes the role of intuition, which is central to Augustinian demonstration, favoring instead observation and logical deduction.

The Challenge of Latin Averroism

Into this complex debate, Latin Averroism introduced the controversial doctrine of double truth. The core issue for Averroists was the apparent difficulty in reconciling Aristotelian theses with Christian dogma. These included:

• Individual immortality
• The Christian concept of creation ex nihilo (from nothing)
• The belief in a single, revealed truth

Their proposed solution was to assert the existence of two distinct truths: a philosophical or scientific truth, and a theological truth. These truths were considered independent and could even be contradictory. Thus, what was true according to reason might not be true according to faith, and vice versa. Numerous examples could illustrate this conflict.

Aquinas's Synthesis and Legacy

Thomas Aquinas precisely undertook the task of purging medieval scholastic philosophy of the 'ballast' of Averroist interpretations. He sought to develop an interpretation of Aristotle compatible with Christian faith and to transcend the Augustinian view of the relationship between faith and reason. His work ultimately shaped the course of Western thought for centuries.