The Thomistic Institute Thomas Aquinas and the Harmony of Faith and Reason | Fr. Thomas Joseph White OP
May 15, 2024
Fr. Thomas Joseph White OP discusses Thomas Aquinas' philosophy on faith and reason. Topics include the rationality of believing in God, the incompatibility of contemporary liberalism with classical principles, the interplay of faith, reason, and love in Catholic tradition, and the contrast between Rawlsian liberalism and theology.
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Natural Reason Can Reach God
- Natural human reason is open to God and can know God's existence through converging metaphysical, moral, and scientific indications.
- Aquinas and Vatican I argue for multiple arguments (contingency, moral dignity, cosmic intelligibility) that cumulatively warrant belief.
Philosophy Shows Limits And Invites Revelation
- Natural knowledge grasps what God is not more readily than what God is, leaving God mysterious yet approachable.
- Aquinas compares us to orphans: philosophy shows a Creator exists, but revelation allows a personal relationship with God.
The Beauty And Coherence Of Revelation
- Revelation has an internal intelligibility: its mysteries cohere and display a kind of supernatural beauty accessible to contemplation.
- Examples: the incarnation, Christ's poverty, suffering, miracles, crucifixion, and resurrection form an integrated, beautiful narrative.