wwSt. Thomas Aquinas – Background Questions Name Papa P’s Questions

You decide what were the 10 MOST Important Ideas in the reading, and write questions as if you were Papa P, hoping you would get the most out of your reading.

1	Why was Thomas Aquinas considered the “official philosopher of the Catholic Church” fro 1879 to the 1960’s? (58-59)
2	What was Thomas Aquinas’ “greatest achievement?” (59)
3	Thomism (the philosophy of Aquinas) consists of a highly successful marriage between ____? What does this mean? (59)
4	In spite of his promotion of this “marriage,” Aquinas is “scrupulous about maintaining the distinction between philosophy and religion, between faith and reason.” What does this mean? (59)
5	According to Aquinas, where does our “rational knowledge” come from? (59)
6	What did Aquinas mean by the phrase “tabula rasa?” (59)
7	What distinction does Aquinas make between “essence” and “existence?” Does he offer an example to illustrate? (60)
8	Why does Aquinas reject Anselm’s “ontological argument?” (60)
9	What does Aquinas mean when he says that God is “pure existence?” (60)
10	How does the “Essence v. Existence” debate remind you of Plato and Aristotle? (60)