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In
the late 13th century, this quiet reflective Dominican scholar
concentrated his work on philosophical concerns that today would
be considered to be partly theological. He combined the work
of Aristotle
with Christian,
Jewish,
Muslim,
and pagan thought to reconcile reason and faith; he believed
we can know that God exists, but not what god is like.
Thomas's
masterpiece, the Summa Theologiae (Summa Theologica),
contains over 10,000 objections and replies to fundamental questions
about God and the world. It enumerates virtues and vices, and
it includes Thomas's famous "five ways" to prove God's
existence, which are (1) the unmoved mover, (2) the uncaused
cause, (3) the necessary being, (4) the perfect Goodness, and
(5) the guiding intelligence. Thomas believed that God is absolutely
simple, perfect, good, infinite, omnipresent, changeless, eternal,
and unique. God is "Pure Subsistent Act of Being,"
continuously communicating the possibility of existence to all
worldly creatures and objects.
For
Thomas, intellectual knowledge is a sign of the spirituality
that energizes the human center. He saw the Bible as a substitute
for the wisdom of a lifetime's study and learning. All in all,
Thomas concluded that mortal happiness (felicity) is uncertain,
but immortal happiness (beatitude) is the ultimate end of life;
beatitude is to pass beyond death to "see the face of God."
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On
two audiotapes or cds - about 2 1/2 hours in length.
Narrator: Charlton Heston
Author: Professor Kenneth L. Schmitz
Editor: Professor John Lachs
Publisher: Knowledge Products, Inc.
This
title is part of the Audio Classics Series by
Knowledge Products. Knowledge Products publishes a variety of
audio presentations on the great ideas and events of history.
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