Epistemology_Of_Aquinas

Epistemology Of Aquinas When reading the epistemology of Aquinas, one will eventually be presented with the problem of whether or not the human soul in the present state of life can understand immaterial substances in themselves. This is an important concept in Aquinas’ epistemology because if the human soul in its present state on earth can know the immaterial, then there are important consequences to this conclusion that contradict much of what Aquinas has previously stated. Consideration will be given to the roles of the active and passive intellects and if and how angels are to be known by the intellect as they are in themselves. First, it is necessary to define some important terms Aquinas uses that will be of particular concern in this analysis. It is first essential to clarify some key terms used by Aquinas in his explanation. To begin with, the term soul is defined as the first intrinsic principle of life in a living body. The human soul specifically is the first principle of all human, rational life. Next, the term matter is defined as the principle in a thing’s being by which it can be determined by intellect, immaterial, things, human, substances, aquinas, material, understand, therefore, life, itself, soul, present, intelligible, themselves, state, mind, god, given, first, being, passive, known, active, able, very, sense, problem, objects, objection, understood, seems, principle, presented, perfect