Aristotelianism

Aristotelianism
   Aristotle of Stagira (384-322 bce) exercised a profound influence on many Christian philosophers, especially Thomas Aquinas and his tutor, Albert the Great. Aristotle's influence was relatively late, however, in penetrating the Christian world, unlike that of his teacher, Plato. This was because only Aristotle's logical works were available in Latin translation (courtesy of Boethius) before the thirteenth century. At that point some new translations were made from the Greek and many more from Arabic versions. Aristotle's emphasis on knowledge derived from the senses was to lead the Aristotelian tradition, above all in Thomas Aquinas, to promote empirical proofs of God's existence such as Thomas's famous 'five ways'. Aristotle's metaphysical views were also extremely influential in the account of form and matter, especially as it relates to the human soul, which Aristotelians took to be the form of the body. Aristotle's views in ethics also exerted great influence, leading to an attempt to understand morality in terms of virtues, albeit with three theological virtues added to the four cardinal virtues of old. Of course, the medievals did not uncritically take over everything that Aristotle said: they were unable, for example, to stomach his doctrine that the world did not have a beginning. Nevertheless, Thomas's great project may well be seen as an attempt to synthesise Aristotelianism and Christianity. Aristotle's influence is still felt in many parts of contemporary Christian philosophy, particularly those parts in the Roman-Catholic tradition, both in his own right and through Thomas Aquinas.
   Further reading: Steenberghen 1970 and 1980

Christian Philosophy . . 2015.

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