Why the Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas?
Thomas Aquinas was a philosopher and theologian of the 13th century. He received his education from the Benedictines, who during the dark ages kept alive the literature of the classical period, both secular literature and religious. In his days, the writings of Aristotle, long forgotten in Europe, reemerged by way of the Arabs. Aristotle lived 300 years before Christ, and was tutor to Alexander the Great. He investigated and wrote about all range of natural phenomena, and held that scientific knowledge started from experience, to which then then we apply logic. The general approach of Aristotle was applied by some, notably Averroes, to support arguments that man’s soul was not immortal, and otherwise in support of positions contrary to religious belief. Those who supported this position avoided trouble by saying that there were two truths, one that applies theology when one reasons starting from what God has revealed, and another truth that applies when one reasons starting from our ex
