In the Summa Contras Gentiles Thomas Aquinas uses these primary truths to show the link between revelation and reason:
1) The Principle of Non-Contradiction, and
2) The Ability of the Mind to Know the Truth
He discusses these assumed truths and how they prove that human reason is compatible with the Christian faith.
It is important to note the Thomas also brings another assumed truth to the argument. This truth is that God is good. He repeats at least twice that God would not give us faulty reasoning, and that it is a ridiculous assertion even to consider that he would. When looking at the language with which he addresses the subject it is obvious that he is establishing God's goodness as an assumed truth.
He begins by saying, "Now though the aforesaid truth of the Christian faith surpasses the ability of human reason, nevertheless those things which are naturally instilled in human reason cannot be opposed to this truth." He is simply establishing that, though many parts of the Christian faith and beliefs are above and beyond human reason, human reason cannot contradict them. Human reason has limits. When revelation breaches these limits, reason is incapable of neither contradicting nor confirming it. In other words, the issue lies with the reason, and not with the revelation.
With this principle established, Thomas continues, "Seeing then that the false alone is opposed to the true...it is impossible for the...truth of faith to be contrary to those principles which reason knows naturally." This brings to mind the principle of mankind's ability to know the truth. The basic statement is that if something is true it is not incompatible with reason--which ties into the principle of non-contradiction. If truth and non-truth exist, then the truths are confirmed by the God-given nature of reason.
His other great argument in the article is that reason is a gift from God; therefore it is compatible with revelation, as both come from the same Creator. God reveals Himself to mankind through revelation and through reason. If both are not compatible, then He could not use them for the same purpose. Thomas Aquinas says, "Now the knowledge of naturally known principles is instilled into us by God, since God Himself is the author of our nature." One must not forget Thomas' third assumed truth that God is good. If this is not assumed, then the argument ensues about God trying to "fool" people by authoring for them faulty reasoning. As Thomas also says, "Wherefore if conflicting knowledges were instilled into us by God, our intellect would thereby be hindered from knowing the truth." As already stated, God gave mankind reasoning for the purpose of understanding, not confusion.
He goes as far as to say that if revelation does not connect with reason, then it is likely not from God. He says, "...those things which are received by faith from divine revelation cannot be contrary to our natural knowledge." Thomas believes that God gave mankind reason as a means of better understanding Himself. Therefore, if reason and revelation contradict each other, then the revelation is not from God, because He will not contradict Himself, in this case, the reasoning which He has created.
Thomas ties his assumed truths together quite nicely in this statement: "Our intellect is stayed by contrary arguments, so that it cannot advance to the knowledge of truth. Wherefore if conflicting knowledges were instilled into us by God, our intellect would thereby be hindered from knowing the truth. And this cannot be ascribed to God." Non-contradiction and the awareness of truth ties very closely together, to the point where this writer did not feel able to discuss them properly separate from each other. As Thomas shows in this statement, non-contradiction ties directly to the awareness of truth. If the truth can be contradicted, then what is truth, and how can people know it? The ability to know the truth cannot exist without the principle of non-contradiction.
In the aforementioned quote, Thomas also covers his assumed truth of God's goodness. He says that God would not instill conflicting knowledge in our nature, because this would obstruct His ability to reveal Himself to people, which is not in the nature of the God of goodness.
Thomas Aquinas' belief is that the Christian faith is compatible with human reason. The proofs he has demonstrated using the assumed truths of non-contradiction, awareness of truth, and the goodness of God have shown a case for this--that Christianity and reason compliment rather than contradict each other.
1) The Principle of Non-Contradiction, and
2) The Ability of the Mind to Know the Truth
He discusses these assumed truths and how they prove that human reason is compatible with the Christian faith.
It is important to note the Thomas also brings another assumed truth to the argument. This truth is that God is good. He repeats at least twice that God would not give us faulty reasoning, and that it is a ridiculous assertion even to consider that he would. When looking at the language with which he addresses the subject it is obvious that he is establishing God's goodness as an assumed truth.
He begins by saying, "Now though the aforesaid truth of the Christian faith surpasses the ability of human reason, nevertheless those things which are naturally instilled in human reason cannot be opposed to this truth." He is simply establishing that, though many parts of the Christian faith and beliefs are above and beyond human reason, human reason cannot contradict them. Human reason has limits. When revelation breaches these limits, reason is incapable of neither contradicting nor confirming it. In other words, the issue lies with the reason, and not with the revelation.
With this principle established, Thomas continues, "Seeing then that the false alone is opposed to the true...it is impossible for the...truth of faith to be contrary to those principles which reason knows naturally." This brings to mind the principle of mankind's ability to know the truth. The basic statement is that if something is true it is not incompatible with reason--which ties into the principle of non-contradiction. If truth and non-truth exist, then the truths are confirmed by the God-given nature of reason.
His other great argument in the article is that reason is a gift from God; therefore it is compatible with revelation, as both come from the same Creator. God reveals Himself to mankind through revelation and through reason. If both are not compatible, then He could not use them for the same purpose. Thomas Aquinas says, "Now the knowledge of naturally known principles is instilled into us by God, since God Himself is the author of our nature." One must not forget Thomas' third assumed truth that God is good. If this is not assumed, then the argument ensues about God trying to "fool" people by authoring for them faulty reasoning. As Thomas also says, "Wherefore if conflicting knowledges were instilled into us by God, our intellect would thereby be hindered from knowing the truth." As already stated, God gave mankind reasoning for the purpose of understanding, not confusion.
He goes as far as to say that if revelation does not connect with reason, then it is likely not from God. He says, "...those things which are received by faith from divine revelation cannot be contrary to our natural knowledge." Thomas believes that God gave mankind reason as a means of better understanding Himself. Therefore, if reason and revelation contradict each other, then the revelation is not from God, because He will not contradict Himself, in this case, the reasoning which He has created.
Thomas ties his assumed truths together quite nicely in this statement: "Our intellect is stayed by contrary arguments, so that it cannot advance to the knowledge of truth. Wherefore if conflicting knowledges were instilled into us by God, our intellect would thereby be hindered from knowing the truth. And this cannot be ascribed to God." Non-contradiction and the awareness of truth ties very closely together, to the point where this writer did not feel able to discuss them properly separate from each other. As Thomas shows in this statement, non-contradiction ties directly to the awareness of truth. If the truth can be contradicted, then what is truth, and how can people know it? The ability to know the truth cannot exist without the principle of non-contradiction.
In the aforementioned quote, Thomas also covers his assumed truth of God's goodness. He says that God would not instill conflicting knowledge in our nature, because this would obstruct His ability to reveal Himself to people, which is not in the nature of the God of goodness.
Thomas Aquinas' belief is that the Christian faith is compatible with human reason. The proofs he has demonstrated using the assumed truths of non-contradiction, awareness of truth, and the goodness of God have shown a case for this--that Christianity and reason compliment rather than contradict each other.
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