1. St. Thomas Aquinas Ronald F. White, Ph.D. Professor of Philosophy
College of Mount St. Joseph

2. Biographical 1225-1274 Roccasecca (castle), Italy
Montecassino (monastery)
University of Naples (Dominicans)
Later Paris
Lived most of his life in Italy

3. Philosophy v. Theology
“… the believer and the philosopher consider creatures differently. The philosopher considers what belongs to their proper natures, while the believer considers only what is true of creatures insofar as they are related to God, for example, that they are created by God and are subject to him, and the like.” (Summa contra gentiles,bk II, chap. 4)

4. Philosophical Orientation
Philosophy is public what everyone knows by rational reflection.
Knowledge of the World-defensible knowledge claims
The rediscovery of the works of Aristotle
Integrated Roman Catholic theology with Aristotelian philosophy. (Faith-Reason)
Metaphysics
Form and Matter
Potentiality and Actuality
Natural Purposefulness
Soul as Animation
Theoretical and Practiical
Problem: Aristotle was (at best) indifferent to a theistic God.
Deism
Polytheism
Ethics: Natural Law

5. Theological Orientation
Known by Divine Revelation
Roman Catholic Theism
Soul will be re-united with the Body
Subsistence v. substance

6. Souls Human Soul Animal Soul Plant Soul Thinking (eternal) immaterial
Perception
motion
Plant Soul
nutrition

7. Rationality of Belief in God
Knowledge of God’s “existence” v. “essence”
Ontological v. Cosmological Proof
5 ways of “knowing” God (from Aristotle and Plato)
1. Motion
2. Causation
3. Existence
4. Degrees of Perfection
5. Design

8. Issues for Philosophy of Mind
Philosophy v. Theology:
Vitalism: The Belief that there is a “vital” difference between living and non-living things.
Anthropocentrism: The belief that humans possess a distinctive kind of soul that elevates us above other living things (plants and animals).
Immortality: The belief that the soul is immortal and “subsists” independent of body.
God as Creator
God as Organizer
Rationality of the Belief in God (Faith-Reason):
Ontological Proof
Cosmological Proof