Thomas Aquinas was a Dominican friar in the 13th century who attained widespread and lasting fame as one of the most pre-eminent scholars of his time.
Aquinas penned down a vast body of works on a wide variety of subjects ranging from philosophy to moral law, metaphysics, and political theory.
His works elevated him to be considered one of the Catholic Church’s most learned theologians of all time. And from the 13th century onwards, his works on philosophy continued to inform both theologians and secular philosophers, eliciting either approval or opposition.
In this capacity, Aquinas has remained relevant and immensely influential throughout the medieval ages down to the modern period.
Early in his age, Thomas Aquinas studied at the university established by Emperor Frederick II in Naples. It was here that he became acquainted with the major works of philosophy including those of Aristotle and the commentaries of Averroes on Aristotle’s works.
Emperor Frederick II
At the age of 19, Thomas resolved to become a part of the Dominican Order, a decision that displeased the powerful Italian family he came from and his family consequently had him imprisoned to dissuade him. The intervention by the family failed and Thomas eventually joined the Order.
From 1245 to 1272, Thomas taught at many prestigious ecclesiastical establishments all over Europe while also penning down many works on theology and philosophy which would earn him lasting fame. He died in 1274.
Aquinas wrote prodigiously throughout his life and produced a vast body of works that would touch upon many different sciences and subjects. He was primarily a theologian who was immensely influenced by classic philosophers such as Dominican Order.
He penned down a number of commentaries of many Aristotelian works. His works also touched upon moral law and ethics, both of which he approached with the morality of a theologian and the prudence of a philosopher.
He also wrote works on political theory and his works related to the human soul and body are often seen as relevant in modern-day psychology. In working on these topics and subjects, Aquinas philosophically tackled many practical issues for a theologian, such as the concept of sin, creation, revelation, and arguments for the existence of God, and the nature of Jesus Christ.
Medieval Philosopher Aristotle
The work for which Thomas Aquinas is best known is ‘Summa Theologica’. Aquinas penned down this work between 1265 and 1274 and intended it to be used by students of theology. To this end, he furnished this work with a compendium of all the theological themes of the Catholic Church, effectively aiming to explain the universe from a theological standpoint.
In penning this work, Aquinas drew on philosophers both secular and theological, as well as authors of different religious backgrounds. Summa became one of the most influential texts of Western literature and a major influence on the subsequent Western philosophy. Authors such as Dante drew inspiration from the work and it continued to inform the literary circles of Europe down to the modern period.
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