Thomas Aquinas
Latin scholasticism, thirteenth century
He integrated Aristotelian tools into inquiries about God, nature, ethics, and law.
Historical context
Thomas Aquinas worked in the setting of medieval universities and religious orders. The reception of Aristotle informs much of his philosophical inquiry.
Overview
An explanation can ask what a thing is made of, what form it has, what produces it, and what end its action tends towards. These distinctions place arguments about nature, action, and God at their own levels.
Main claims
Reason can investigate aspects of reality and distinguish them from matters known through revelation.
Debates and nuances
He distinguishes truths accessible to philosophical inquiry from those known through revelation.
This entry provides educational context.