The Pillars: Jerusalem, Athens, and the Western Mind Medieval Literature III: Aquinas
Jun 4, 2025
R.J. Snell, philosopher and editor steeped in Thomistic thought and natural law, guides a lively tour of Thomas Aquinas. He explores Aquinas’s synthetic genius blending Augustine and Aristotle. Short takes cover Aquinas’s view of existence, fine-grained theological distinctions, mysticism alongside scholarship, scriptural interpretation, law and reason, the nature of evil, and Trinitarian roots of personhood.
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Reason As Common Ground For Religious Dialogue
- Aquinas treats reason as an authority accessible across traditions and urges conversation grounded in reason.
- Snell cites Summa Contra Gentiles: appeal to reason with pagans, scriptures with Jews, but reason remains binding for all interlocutors.
Theology Requires Philosophy To Make Sense
- Theology for Aquinas is a scientia that begins with revelation but requires philosophical categories to be coherent.
- Snell explains theological disputes (e.g., revelation vs change) force use of metaphysics, logic, and distinctions to 'save' truth like a symphony.
Aquinas's Humble Mystical Finale
- Aquinas's hagiography recounts him laying the Summa on the altar and receiving a mystical affirmation, and later saying his writings were 'straw' after a vision.
- Snell uses these stories to show Aquinas as both contemplative mystic and rigorous theologian who prays before writing.
