THOMAS AQUINAS

Thomas Aquinas: Every Dumb Ox has its day

Imagine this: You're in the sun-kissed hills of 13th century Italy. The Kingdom of Sicily is alive with activity—medieval castles, great estates, and the clip-clop of horses on cobblestone streets. You're a member of a noble family, living the good life in a stunning fortress. But you have no idea that your youngest son, was going to alter the course of history.

(That was the story of Thomas Aquinas’s father. Now let’s get back to Thomas)

Let us start from the beginning.

Early Beginnings

Thomas Aquinas, was Born in circa 1225 to a wealthy noble family in southern Italy, Thomas's path in life was decided. His family had other plans for him, however: he was to pursue the well-established path of wealth and status, perhaps as a knight or as the administrator of the family estate. But Thomas had other ideas. He was sent to the monastery of Monte Cassino as a young boy, where his family hoped he’d grow up to be the abbot—basically a medieval family career plan. But in 1239, the emperor expelled the monks for being too loyal to the pope. So, Thomas was sent to the University of Naples, where he first encountered all those fancy Greek and Arabic texts. That’s when he had an epiphany.

A Particularly Rebellious Adolescence

At 19, he did something that infuriated his family—particularly his mother—by joining the Dominican Order(Roman Catholic religious order), which meant giving up wealth, status, and his family's influence for one of poverty and begging for alms. You can imagine that his mother wasn't pleased about this turn of events , had him kidnapped and imprisoned in the family castle for almost a year in an attempt to make him see sense. But even that didn't work. Instead, Aquinas spent his time attempting to convert his family to his religion.

Things only get wilder when his brothers, in an attempt to break him, hire a prostitute to visit him in jail and try to break his chastity vow. What does Thomas do? He takes a burning log, sends her away, and etches a cross into the wall, all while experiencing a mystical vision in which angels visit him and vow to grant him divine chastity for the remainder of his life. That's some hardcore piety.

Despite his family’s attempts, Thomas’s resolve remained unshaken. In 1244, seeing that all efforts to change his mind had failed, his mother, Theodora, arranged for a secret escape. Under the cover of night, Thomas slipped out of the family castle and made his way to Naples. From there, he traveled to Rome to meet Johannes von Wildeshausen, the Master General of the Dominican Order. At last, Thomas’s dream of joining the Dominicans became a reality.

The Real Important Bits: Not Gossip

So who was Thomas Aquinas, then? Well, he wasn't precisely a psychologist, but his rigorous examination of the human soul, free will, and moral development has echoes in the discipline of psychology even now. Even though he lived in the Middle Ages and did not have the science and technology that we have today, his philosophical concepts regarding human nature were the basis of the ideas that we still attempt to realize in modern psychology.

Thomas Aquinas' enormous corpus of works explored the dialogue between the human mind and the mind of God. His best-known work, The Summa Theologica (1267–1273), blended intellect and religious faith. It gave him a lasting place among scholars and religious leaders as one of the most influential thinkers in Western philosophy and theology.

Among the most important components of the work would be the Five Ways, which reflects five unique arguments to prove the existence of God. Interestingly, these arguments only compose a very small fraction of a lengthy work. Perhaps it would be the profound nature of the argument that draws so much attention.

The Man Behind the Name

Thomas Aquinas was given the nickname "Dumb Ox" by his classmates because of his quiet, reserved nature and large size. They assumed he was slow-witted. However, his brilliance soon became clear, and his teacher, Albert the Great, famously remarked that while Thomas was seen as a "dumb ox," his intellectual impact would "bellow" across the world. Aquinas went on to become one of the most influential philosophers and theologians in history. Glad to know that Universities and Classmates have been the same since the thirteenth century.

Aquinas’ Major Contributions and Theories

Aquinas’ Concept of the Soul and Its Psychological Implications

St Thomas Aquinas created a broad impact in philosophy and psychology with his theory of the soul. By blending Aristotelian principles with an enriched theological context, he created his impact throughout the history of religious and psychological thought.

Tripartite Soul Theory

Saint Aquinas expanded Aristotle's understanding of the soul, he also divided it into three distinct parts, each of it had a different purpose:

Rational Soul

Thomas Aquinas said that this made human beings unique. This is what allows us to reason well, to make wise decisions, to problem-solve, and grasp major concepts. This allows us to know right and wrong, to reflect on our actions, and seek out ultimate meaning.

Example: When you ask yourself what's the right thing to do or talk seriously about something, or plan your future. To do all this you're thinking hence using the rational soul.

Sensitive Soul

He said this soul is responsible for our emotions, feelings, and desires. It makes us feel happy, in pain, loving, or afraid, among others. While present in animals as well, in a human being it collaborates with the rational soul to achieve emotions management and inhibition.

Example: When you are enraged but choose to control it through logic, your rational and compassionate souls are operating in harmony.

Vegetative Soul

It is the lowest level of the soul and it controls involuntary functions of the body, including growth, digestion, and reproduction. It is found in all living things, ranging from plants and animals.

Example: When your body mends an injury, digests, or grows, the vegetative soul is actively working.

Aquinas' soul theory provides us with a model for how our bodies, feelings, and thoughts are all related, and this has influenced religious and psychological thought regarding human nature.

Comparison with Aristotle’s Soul Theory

Aquinas built upon Aristotle's concept of the soul being the source of what makes something alive. Aquinas added his Christian worldview, though. Aristotle believed the soul was merely attached to the body and would perish at the death of the body. Aquinas didn't believe that plants and animals contained souls, but only the human soul had reason and remained after death of the bodily form.

Key Difference: Aquinas did not only see the soul as something that keeps us alive or allows us to think, but also as a spiritual connection to God, which makes humans different.

Connection to Modern Psychology

Aquinas' theory of the soul has firm parallels in contemporary psychology. His rational soul, focusing on thought and decision-making, has parallels in cognitive psychology that examines how we think and reason. His theory of an essentially human ability to have profound, self-aware thought is paralleled in today's debates over consciousness and self-awareness. The sensitive soul, preoccupied with desire and emotion, is perfectly compatible with psychological conceptions of emotion regulation, control of impulses, and motivation. The structural model of Sigmund Freud, id, ego, and superego resonates with the same—the vegetative soul our basic needs to survive, the sensitive soul our emotional and instinctual desires, and the rational soul our faculty for rational reasoning and moral sense.

Learning, Knowledge, and Cognition in Aquinas’ Thought

Aquinas also played a major role in the field of epistemology—the philosophy of knowledge. Aquinas tried to close the gap between faith and reason by contending that human knowledge comes through sensory experience as well as intellectual reasoning.

Empiricism + Rationalism

Aquinas incorporated aspects of both empiricism (experience-derived knowledge) and rationalism (reasoning-derived knowledge). According to him, human beings attain knowledge initially by experience (empiricism), but in order to fully know and utilize it, they will need to utilize reasoning (rationalism).

Example: A child apprehends fire by experiencing it through contact and sensing heat (empiricism), but subsequently, through reasoning, comprehends the law of combustion and the risks of fire (rationalism).

Active vs. Passive Intellect

Aquinas developed Aristotle's ideas of intellect by distinguishing between two cognitive faculties. The passive intellect acts as a repository, collecting sensory information and preserving experiential and perceptual knowledge. On the other hand, the active intellect is involved in the processing of the raw information, converting it into coherent understanding. This dichotomy explains the difference between information acquisition and the generation of meaningful knowledge.

Example: When learning a new language, a person first memorizes vocabulary and grammatical patterns (passive intellect). They then apply this learned information to formulate sentences, communicate verbally, and generate creative written material (active intellect).

Modern Relevance: Application to Cognitive Development

Aquinas' ideas about knowledge acquisition and cognitive functioning show analogies with modern psychological theories. Jean Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development suggests that children learn initially through sensory perceptions before they develop reasoning skills, which parallels Aquinas' differentiation between passive and active intellect. Likewise, the Information Processing Model views the human mind as a computer system, describing the step-by-step processes of information intake (passive) and follow-up processing and utilization (active) to create meaningful cognitive products.

Example: In school, teachers first expose students to new ideas using didactic instruction (it is a teaching method where a teacher presents information directly to students. Like passive learning), then student participation in hands-on utilization through discussions, problem-solving activities, and creative projects (active learning).

Faith, Reason and Church Doctrine

Aquinas' greatest contribution was finding a way for faith and reason to exist together in harmony. The Catholic Church at his period of time was focused mostly on religion and divine revelation and less on logical inquiry and empirical observation. Aquinas, however, thought that reason and religion are not opposing forces but complementarity avenues toward achieving the highest reality—God. He made an enlightenment regarding the difference between theological and philosophical knowledge of God, in which theologians make faith as the basis of their beliefs while philosophers use reason and logic in arriving at the same conclusion. He was significantly attracted to Aristotle and brought Aristotelian thought to Christian theology and thus redeeming reason as a path to knowing divine facts. Although there was resistance, particularly on the part of theologians such as St. Bonaventure, who put more value on personal religious experience than on reasoning, Aquinas' ideas gained wide acceptance and became a cornerstone of Catholic thinking.

Influence on Later Thinkers and Psychology

Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) wasn’t just a medieval philosopher and theologian, he was basically the ultimate crossover episode of Aristotle and Christianity. Imagine him as the guy in the library who’s read everything and still has time to debate theology over a flagon of mead. His fusion of Aristotelian logic with Christian doctrine along with his takes on the soul, human nature, and morality shaped centuries of philosophical, psychological, and ethical debates.

Influence on René Descartes and Mind-Body Dualism

René Descartes (1596–1650), often hailed as the father of modern philosophy, is renowned for his formulation of mind-body dualism, which posits the separation of the mind (res cogitans) and body (res extensa) as distinct substances.

Aquinas's earlier work on the nature of the soul provided a foundation that influenced Descartes's dualistic approach. Aquinas viewed the soul as the substantial form of the body (forma corporis), integral to human identity and functioning, yet possessing aspects that transcend physicality. This conception underscored the soul's immateriality and its capacity for intellectual operations beyond mere bodily functions, laying the groundwork for later dualistic interpretations.

Impact on Catholic and Ethical Psychology

Aquinas was like the blueprint for Catholic psychology. His synthesis of Aristotelian philosophy with Christian theology has been instrumental in shaping Catholic psychology. His understanding of the soul as both the form of the body and the seat of rationality emphasized the unity of human nature, countering purely materialistic or dualistic interpretations. This holistic view has influenced Catholic teachings on human behavior, morality, and personal development. In ethical psychology, Aquinas's articulation of virtues as habitual dispositions toward the good has informed contemporary discussions on character formation and moral behavior. His delineation of cardinal virtues—prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance—provides a framework for understanding ethical conduct and psychological well-being.

Nature vs. Nurture Debate

Aquinas was ahead of his time on the nature vs. nurture debate. He basically said, “Why not both?”

Aquinas's perspective on human behavior acknowledges the interplay between innate capacities and external influences. He posited that humans possess natural inclinations toward certain goods, such as self-preservation and social interaction, rooted in their rational nature. However, the actualization of these inclinations depends on external factors, including education, environment, and personal experiences. This acknowledgment of both inherent tendencies and the formative role of external conditions aligns with contemporary understandings in the nature versus nurture debate, recognizing that behavior results from the complex interaction between genetic predispositions and environmental factors.

Moral Responsibility and Decision-Making

Aquinas's exploration of human action and moral responsibility has been foundational in the study of moral psychology. He argued that moral actions are those performed with both knowledge and consent, emphasizing the role of rational deliberation in ethical decision-making. This focus on intentionality and the rational evaluation of choices prefigures modern theories in moral development. Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development, for instance, outline a progression in moral reasoning from a focus on obedience and punishment to the adherence to universal ethical principles, reflecting a maturation in moral cognition that Aquinas's work anticipates.

Shaping Later Philosophy and Psychology

Aquinas's integration of philosophical reasoning with theological insights has had a lasting impact on both philosophy and psychology. His emphasis on rationality as a defining feature of human nature has influenced existential and humanistic psychological theories that prioritize self-actualization and personal meaning. Moreover, his ethical framework, centered on virtue and the ultimate end of human flourishing, continues to inform contemporary discussions on moral psychology and character education. By addressing the complexities of human motivation, intention, and behavior, Aquinas's work remains a touchstone in the ongoing exploration of the human psyche.

In summary, Thomas Aquinas's philosophical and theological contributions have profoundly influenced subsequent thought in philosophy and psychology. His nuanced understanding of the soul, human nature, and morality has provided a rich foundation for exploring the depths of human behavior and ethical reasoning, resonating through the centuries in various intellectual traditions. His philosophy is still shaping debates today—from mind-body theories to moral decision-making. So next time you’re making an important choice, just ask yourself: "What would Aquinas do?" (Probably not spend three hours on finding memes instead of writing an essay, but hey, no one's perfect.)

The Lack of Empirical Evidence in Aquinas’ Work

Imagine you’re trying to explain Thomas Aquinas to a modern psychologist, and they ask, “Cool story bro, but where’s the data?” This is one of the biggest issues with his work. Aquinas’ ideas weren’t based on experimental psychology but rather on philosophy and theology.

Aquinas’ approach was more “Trust me, bro” than “Let’s run an experiment” when it came to understanding the human mind. He heavily relied on logic, theological principles, and Aristotle’s works. That’s like trying to explain how memory works based on a vibe check rather than running cognitive tests.

The Problem with Metaphysics and Theology

Another issue? He was way too invested in metaphysics and theology. His work assumes that the soul plays an important role in human cognition, emotions, and morality. But modern psychology, especially neuroscience, doesn’t exactly believe in the idea of the “soul controls behavior” theory. It’s like expecting a scientist to take horoscopes seriously when explaining personality traits.

To be fair, Aquinas wasn’t trying to build a psychology lab. His goal was to bridge reason with faith. He relied on concepts that are difficult, if not impossible, to test scientifically. The mind-body relationship remains a major question in psychology and philosophy, yet Aquinas’ take on it doesn’t hold up under empirical scrutiny. Unlike Freud, who conducted psychoanalysis, or Skinner, who ran behavioral experiments, Aquinas primarily relied on abstract reasoning.

The Aging of Aquinas’ Cognitive Theories

Then there’s the problem of some of his ideas aging like milk. While Aquinas’ moral philosophy and ethics are still respected, his explanations of human cognition lack the complexity of how we understand it through neuroscience. His tripartite soul theory (rational, sensitive, and vegetative souls) was useful in his time, but today, we have more nuanced models of cognitive-behavioral frameworks. Saying modern psychology still follows Aquinas’ ideas on cognition would be like saying we still use floppy disks because they were innovative back in the day.

Why Psychology Moved Away from Aquinas

That’s why scientific psychology gradually moved away from his theories. The shift from philosophy to empirical research meant that experimental methods, statistical analysis, and neuroscience replaced theological explanations. But hey, even though Aquinas isn’t quoted in psychology textbooks as much as Freud or Piaget, his ethical insights are still part of modern discussions about moral development and human reasoning. His ideas on virtue, decision-making, and free will still play a crucial role in debates on ethics, cognitive science, and even artificial intelligence. His legacy may not be in empirical psychology, but his contributions continue to shape philosophical psychology, ethics, and discussions on human nature.

Aquinas’ Influence on Modern Thought

Okay, so Aquinas may not have dropped any peer-reviewed studies, but does that mean we should just ignore him like an unread Terms & Conditions agreement? Not really. His work on the soul, cognition, and morality still holds some weight, even if we’ve moved on to more scientific approaches. Aquinas helped lay the groundwork for later debates on free will, decision-making, and ethics. It is still relevant in fields like cognitive science and moral psychology.

For instance, his idea that human reasoning is a mix of experience and rational thought sounds a lot like what we see in cognitive psychology today. His focus on moral decision-making also connects with modern theories like Kohlberg’s stages of moral development.

The Unexpected Legacy of Aquinas

Aquinas' ideas also resonate in discussions about AI ethics, consciousness, and human nature. With ongoing debates about whether AI can develop morality, philosophers and cognitive scientists still explore questions about rationality, decision-making, and what it means to be a conscious being—questions that Aquinas attempted to answer centuries ago. Even if his framework isn’t used in modern research, his philosophical contributions still influence discussions on morality, law, and ethics.

So, while we don’t use Aquinas’ theories directly to diagnose mental health disorders or study brain function, his contributions are still a basis for modern psychology. The real question is: Can a medieval thinker still help us understand the human mind today? Or is it time to leave him in the history books like an outdated meme?

References

Author Unknown. (2012, July). Natural law and moral decision making. Catholic Messenger https://catholicmessenger.net/2012/07/natural-law-and-moral-decision-making/

Author Unknown. (n.d.). Nature and role of the conscience. Ethics Revision. https://ethicsrevision.wordpress.com/natureandroleoftheconscience/

Author Unknown. (n.d.). René Descartes: The mind-body distinction. Argumentame. https://argumentame.com/rene-descartes-the-mind-body-distinction/

Author Unknown. (n.d.). Thomas Aquinas: Moral philosophy. Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. https://iep.utm.edu/thomasaquinas-moral-philosophy/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Author Unknown. (n.d.). Ways of moral decision making. RSASA. https://rsasa2.wordpress.com/ways-of-moral-decision-making/

Brennan, J. F. (2013). History and systems of Psychology: Pearson New International Edition. Pearson.

Chad. (2013, December 11). St. Thomas Aquinas Biography - Life of Italian Theologian & Priest. Totally History. https://totallyhistory.com/st-thomas-aquinas/

Chenu, & Marie-Dominique. (2025, March 3). Saint Thomas Aquinas | Biography, Books, Natural Law, Summa Theologica, Saint, Philosophy, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Thomas-Aquinas

Haidt, J. (2012). The righteous mind: Why good people are divided by politics and religion. Pantheon Books.

Hatfield, G. (2002). Psychology, philosophy, and cognitive science: Reflections on the history and philosophy of experimental psychology. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 25(4), 489-502. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X02000086

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Henley, T. B. (2019). HergenHahn’s an introduction to the history of psychology (Eighth Edition). Cengage Learning. https://www.cengage.com

https://restlesspilgrim.net/blog/2014/01/28/my-favourite-meme-from-today/

https://x.com/DavidPaternostr/status/1890408771253420250

Kohlberg, L. (1981). The philosophy of moral development: Moral stages and the idea of justice. Harper & Row.

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Links to the pictures:

MacIntyre, A. (1984). After virtue: A study in moral theory. University of Notre Dame Press.

McInerny, R. (2004). Aquinas. Polity Press.

Pasnau, R. (2002). Thomas Aquinas on human nature: A philosophical study of Summa Theologiae. Cambridge University Press.

Paul Chutikorn. (2018, November 9). A Thomistic critique of Cartesian dualism. Thomistica. https://thomistica.net/essays/2018/11/9/a-thomistic-critique-of-cartesian-dualism

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Thomas Aquinas (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). (2022b, December 7). https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aquinas/

History and Systems of Psychology

Friday, March 14, 2025

chinese philosophy taoism

Possession or Repression? Unpacking Mental Illness

THOMAS AQUINAS

THOMAS AQUINAS

Early Beginnings

A Particularly Rebellious Adolescence

The Real Important Bits: Not Gossip

The Man Behind the Name

Aquinas’ Major Contributions and Theories

Aquinas’ Concept of the Soul and Its Psychological Implications

Tripartite Soul Theory

Comparison with Aristotle’s Soul Theory

Connection to Modern Psychology

Learning, Knowledge, and Cognition in Aquinas’ Thought

Active vs. Passive Intellect

Example: When learning a new language, a person first memorizes vocabulary and grammatical patterns (passive intellect). They then apply this learned information to formulate sentences, communicate verbally, and generate creative written material (active intellect).

Modern Relevance: Application to Cognitive Development

Faith, Reason and Church Doctrine

Influence on Later Thinkers and Psychology

Influence on René Descartes and Mind-Body Dualism

Impact on Catholic and Ethical Psychology

Nature vs. Nurture Debate

Moral Responsibility and Decision-Making

Shaping Later Philosophy and Psychology

The Lack of Empirical Evidence in Aquinas’ Work

The Problem with Metaphysics and Theology

The Aging of Aquinas’ Cognitive Theories

Why Psychology Moved Away from Aquinas

Aquinas’ Influence on Modern Thought

The Unexpected Legacy of Aquinas

chinese philosophy taoism

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