In Our Time St Thomas Aquinas
12 snips
Sep 17, 2009 
Martin Palmer and Annabel Brett discuss St Thomas Aquinas, highlighting his influence on Catholic theology, natural law, and just war theory. They explore his harmonization of reason and faith, his intellectual journey from Arabic scholars to Aristotle, and his profound encounter with God's love. The podcast delves into the historical context of Aquinas' time, his turbulent path, and his philosophical synthesis of Augustine and Aristotle.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Aquinas's Kidnapping
- Aquinas's family kidnapped him to prevent him from joining the Dominicans.
- They tried to break his will, even attempting to seduce him with women.
Shifting Intellectual Landscape
- Aquinas entered a changing intellectual environment where universities trained church administrators.
- Aristotelian philosophy was initially banned but later became required study.
Arabic Influence on Aristotelian Studies
- Aristotle's works became central to the curriculum due to the influence of Arabic commentators like Avicenna and Averroes.
- They provided a workable model of science, making Aristotle's teachings accessible for university instruction.