Summa Theologica

Definition

The Summa Theologica is a comprehensive work of systematic theology written by the influential Catholic philosopher and theologian, Thomas Aquinas. It is considered one of the most important and influential works in the history of Western philosophy and theology.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Summa Theologica is divided into three main parts, which address God, the nature of man, and the sacraments of the Church.
2. Aquinas sought to reconcile the teachings of the Catholic Church with the philosophical ideas of Aristotle, using a method of logical reasoning and analysis.
3. The Summa Theologica is structured in a question-and-answer format, with Aquinas addressing a wide range of theological and philosophical questions.
4. The work is known for its comprehensive and systematic approach to theology, as well as its emphasis on the use of reason and logic to understand and defend Christian doctrine.
5. The Summa Theologica had a significant influence on the development of Western philosophy and theology, and is still widely studied and debated today.

Review Questions

• Explain how the Summa Theologica reflects the principles of Scholasticism.
  • The Summa Theologica exemplifies the Scholastic approach to theology and philosophy, which emphasized the use of reason and logic to analyze and reconcile Christian doctrine with classical philosophy. Aquinas' systematic and comprehensive treatment of theological questions, as well as his reliance on the works of Aristotle and other ancient philosophers, demonstrates the Scholastic method of using rational inquiry to deepen understanding of the divine.
• Describe the role of natural theology in the Summa Theologica.
  • The Summa Theologica incorporates elements of natural theology, which seeks to prove the existence of God and divine attributes through reason and observation of the natural world, rather than through revelation or scripture alone. Aquinas' arguments for the existence of God, such as the cosmological and teleological arguments, exemplify this approach to theology. By grounding his theological system in rational inquiry and natural philosophy, Aquinas aimed to provide a comprehensive and logically coherent defense of Christian doctrine.
• Analyze how the Summa Theologica influenced the development of Thomism and its lasting impact on Western philosophy and theology.
  • The Summa Theologica is the foundational work of Thomism, the philosophical and theological system based on the teachings of Thomas Aquinas. Thomism emphasizes the use of reason and logic to understand and defend Christian doctrine, a approach that is central to the Summa Theologica. The work's systematic and comprehensive treatment of theological questions, as well as its synthesis of Christian thought with Aristotelian philosophy, had a profound and lasting impact on the development of Western philosophy and theology. The Summa Theologica remains a seminal text that continues to shape intellectual discourse and influence contemporary theological and philosophical debates.

Related terms

Scholasticism: A method of learning and philosophical inquiry that was dominant in medieval Europe, characterized by the use of reason and logic to analyze and reconcile Christian doctrine with classical philosophy.

Natural Theology:

The branch of theology that seeks to prove the existence of God and divine attributes through reason and observation of the natural world, rather than through revelation or scripture.

Thomism: The philosophical and theological system based on the teachings of Thomas Aquinas, which emphasizes the use of reason and logic to understand and defend Christian doctrine.