St Thomas Aquinas

St Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), the Angelic Doctor, or Doctor of the Schools, was an Italian philosopher, theologian and a Dominican friar. He is considered as the greatest figure of scholasticism. He introduced the work of Aristotle to Christian western Europe. His commentaries on Aristotle is noteworthy. His other important works included the Summa Contra Gentiles and Summa Theologiae. Summa Theologiæ, is considered the greatest of his many works, is a masterly production, and to this day of standard authority in the Romish Church.

His writings, which fill 17 folio volumes, along with those of Duns Scotus, his rival, constitute the high-water mark of scholastic philosophy and the watershed of its divergence into the Philosophico-Speculative Thought on the one hand, and the Ethico-Practical or Realism of Modern Times on the other.

He was an Italian of noble birth, studied at Naples, became a Dominican monk despite the opposition of his parents, sat at the feet of Albertus Magnus, and went with him to Paris. He was known among his pupils as the "Dumb Ox," from his stubborn silence at study, prelected at his Alma Mater and elsewhere with distinguished success, and being invited to assist the Council at Lyons, fell sick and died.

The Feast day in his memory is observed on January 28.

Wisdom & Quotes

• Government by a tyrant is the worst form of rule.

- On Princely Government

Attar