In The Reawakening of Intellectual Life in the Middle Ages, James Brennan and Keith Houde assert that “the motivational factor in Aquinas’ psychology is the will, comprising the critical forces of growth and movement,”[1] pointing to a greater and diverse aspect of life that differentiates Thomas Aquinas from other medieval scholars such as Peter Abelard. Despite the commitment and effort of the two academicians, Thomas Aquinas emerged as an intellectual hero and doubled up as a saint because of his critical views towards various aspects of life, religion, and the society.
Aquinas’s early life presents an opportunity for individuals to understand his perspective towards life. Being born in an affluent family discouraged him to embrace the different provisions granted to him. Instead, he chose to digress and experience life where he formulated controversial statements about the protestant movement. Aquinas’s contribution to theology have played a critical role in the development of divergent ideas that influence the thought process of individuals in their immediate environment. His ability to solve the debacle between faith and reason exposed Aquinas to an enabling environment where people noticed his contribution compared to that of other scholars such as Abelard.
Even though Thomas Aquinas and Peter Abelard had an equal commitment and effort towards the dissection of religious problems, Thomas Aquinas emerged as an intellectual hero and doubled up as a saint because of his critical views towards various aspects of life, religion, and the society. In this regard, Aquinas inspired individuals beyond his religious contribution by exposing them to his perspectives towards life. From this realization, many people would relate with his realistic arguments because of their application and sentimental value to human existence.
Bibliography
[1] Abélard, Pierre, Roger Bacon, Albertus Magnus, and Ψ. St Thomas Aquinas. “The Reawakening of Intellectual Life in the Middle Ages.” History and Systems of Psychology (2017): 74.
