3 ms·

This is kind out of scope, but ever since Deus Ex (the game), I have wondered what the big deal about Aquinas is. Never found his work all that interesting.

mac01021 8y ago
What about compared to that of all his contemporaries?
amelius 8y ago
Could you explain, for people who don't know that game?
- Devils_Avocado 8y ago
  http://deusex.wikia.com/wiki/Aquinas http://deusex.wikia.com/wiki/Aquinas plus the wikipedia article on Aquinas. Basically, he developed what were regarded at the time as deductive "proofs" for the 'self-evident' truths of Catholicism, popularising some lateral thinking around the church's teachings which was a break from the contemporary norm of "this is true because the man in the funny hat who can read the big book says that's what the book says".
- yters 8y ago
  Aristotle's writings were making their way into the European world and were causing a controversy over whether the truths of the scripture were consistent with truths of philosophy. Aquinas provided a comprehensive treatment of the question, demonstrating to the best of his ability the two sources of truth were consistent.
simula67 8y ago
I did not understand most of what he wrote. I thought he was being too obtuse. So I have been reading contemporary explanations of his ideas ( like those from Edward Feser ). I have a slightly better opinion of Acquinas today
Nasrudith 8y ago
I read a bit of him in college - what he pushed isn't all that special now nor something that stands out as a "holy crap" like predicting the existence of atoms but he had some influence with theodicy and other catholic foundations. While qualifying that a woman isn't at fault for being raped if she didn't enjoy it is horrifyiny misogynistic it was sadly progressive for his day. One amusing thing he had to argue against was that the Roman Empire fell due to abandoning the old gods and that if God was a real/superior power then they shouldn't have fallen.

mac01021 8y ago

What about compared to that of all his contemporaries?

amelius 8y ago

Could you explain, for people who don't know that game?

Devils_Avocado 8y ago
http://deusex.wikia.com/wiki/Aquinas http://deusex.wikia.com/wiki/Aquinas plus the wikipedia article on Aquinas. Basically, he developed what were regarded at the time as deductive "proofs" for the 'self-evident' truths of Catholicism, popularising some lateral thinking around the church's teachings which was a break from the contemporary norm of "this is true because the man in the funny hat who can read the big book says that's what the book says".
yters 8y ago
Aristotle's writings were making their way into the European world and were causing a controversy over whether the truths of the scripture were consistent with truths of philosophy. Aquinas provided a comprehensive treatment of the question, demonstrating to the best of his ability the two sources of truth were consistent.

simula67 8y ago

I did not understand most of what he wrote. I thought he was being too obtuse. So I have been reading contemporary explanations of his ideas ( like those from Edward Feser ). I have a slightly better opinion of Acquinas today

Nasrudith 8y ago

I read a bit of him in college - what he pushed isn't all that special now nor something that stands out as a "holy crap" like predicting the existence of atoms but he had some influence with theodicy and other catholic foundations. While qualifying that a woman isn't at fault for being raped if she didn't enjoy it is horrifyiny misogynistic it was sadly progressive for his day. One amusing thing he had to argue against was that the Roman Empire fell due to abandoning the old gods and that if God was a real/superior power then they shouldn't have fallen.