Vinay Shah

September 11,2013
Ways of Knowledge

In order to understand Thomas Aquinass epistemological process, we
need to clarify what epistemology means to Aquinas. Epistemology is defined as
the theory of knowledge with regards to its methods, validity and scope.
Although Aquinas does not explicitly discuss epistemology, he theorizes a means
of knowledge in terms of the corporeal aspect of nature, and senses. He also
discusses the processes of learning on an incorporeal plane of existence. In
order to do so, Aquinas uses Aristotelian philosophy, Augustinian ideas and The
Bible.
The first epistemological question that Aquinas tackles is question 84 from
the Summa Theologica. Here, he discusses the hierarchy of the soul over that of
matter. He believes that we see the corporeal (phantasms) and our soul is
capable of understanding its essence (abstraction). The phantasms of anything
include many attributes such colors and shapes, which can be seen by ones
active intellect and be shredded down to its essence. The idea of innate
knowledge is completely rejected by him as true knowledge can only be acquired
by the means of stripping down the phantasms in order to be able to see the
abstractions. Aquinas considers these abstractions to be the truest form of a
particular. Since essence is the truest form of a particular, he considers the soul
to be on a higher plane than matter. Aquinas believes that the human intellect is
higher than that of animals as humans participate in Gods essence and thus is
capable of intellectually understanding the epitomes of the workings of God.
The second question (Question 85) that Aquinas tackles pertains to the
mode and order of understanding. Aquinas believes that the human
understanding can be expanded to an elevated level by moving up from the
corporeal understanding to an understanding of the essence of the particulars.
Reality can only be understood by humans in their intellect and these ideas are
formed as concepts of the idea as opposed to the idea itself. Aquinas believes
that the intellect cannot err and that the something false can only come through
an accident. He also believes that all intellects through the same essence have
the same potential of understanding.
Another topic that Aquinas tackles is that of the relationship between
intellect and material things (Question 86). He believes that the human intellect
is finite as it is limited by our corporeal form. It is due to this limitation that
humans cannot understand the infinite. Having clarified that, he goes on to say
that this limitation does not deter the human intellect from understanding the
concept of potential limitlessness. This is due to the basis of the intellect, which
allows humans to keep learning new things. Thomas also says that the intellect
is incapable of knowing the outcome of something without streaming through the
cause of said potential result. Foresight can only take place through the means
of experience, which allows for the knowledge of a logical next step.
The next epistemological question that Aquinas tackles is that of the soul
and its understanding of itself (Question 87). In order to understand the souls
relationship with itself, the understanding of the supreme essence of God is
required. Thomas believes that an essence that is more separated from the
matter is more comprehensible. Since God is completely immaterial, he is
omniscient. The soul is capable of understanding itself in the same way. This is
because the soul can understand its own will and can know itself by separating
itself from its corporal form.
Thomas then discusses if the human soul understands the immaterial
substances that are above it or not (Question 88). Since immaterial substances
do not have phantasms, the human soul cannot directly understand them. This
means that we cannot understand God in his essence, as God is completely
immaterial. This does not mean that we cannot understand Gods existence.
The intellect can understand Gods existence through reason as Gods essence
is existence and humans exist.
Knowledge of the soul that is separated from the matter is then discussed
(Question 89). Aquinas believed that the soul after it is separated from the
material aspect has the potential of a higher knowledge due to its limitlessness.
This is due to his notion that the soul does not lose its knowledge of itself.
Having explained that, he also explains that the soul cannot have the knowledge
of corporeal substances due to its lack of senses. Thus the separated soul does
not understand the materialistic nature of the universe but can understand the
essence in a higher level of existence.
It is through this epistemological process, that Thomas attempts to reason
and comprehend the means by which humans can understand in either the
corporeal form or when the soul is separated from matter.











Discussion questions:
Form
1) How does the English translation of the text affect what Thomas is trying
to say?
2) Would the text be clearer had it been in a different format than the
scientific method?
Substance
1) Aquinas assumes the hierarchy of the soul over that of the material world.
Does this in anyway affect Thomass philosophy if one didnt believe that
the soul is in a higher plane of existence than matter?
2) How much further into a rational process of understanding the
metaphysical does one have to revert to faith? Or is faith necessary to
even begin a rational process when it pertains to the distinction of humans
from their consciousness?