Contemplation, Intellectus, and Simplex Intuitus in Aquinas: Recovering a Neoplatonic Theme

This contribution examines two related points in relation to Aquinas's understanding of contemplation, which is a sorely neglected topic in scholarship. First, after having outlined that the final act of contemplation culminates in an intellective, simple apprehension of the truth, I will exami...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American catholic philosophical quarterly
Main Author: Van Nieuwenhove, Rik 1967- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Philosophy Documentation Center [2017]
In: American catholic philosophical quarterly
Further subjects:B Contemplation
B ARISTOTELIANISM (Philosophy)
B REASONING (Logic)
B LEARNING & scholarship
B Neoplatonism
Online Access: Presumably Free Access
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Summary:This contribution examines two related points in relation to Aquinas's understanding of contemplation, which is a sorely neglected topic in scholarship. First, after having outlined that the final act of contemplation culminates in an intellective, simple apprehension of the truth, I will examine how this act relates to the three operations of the intellect (grasping of quiddity, judgement, and reasoning) Aquinas identifies in a number of places. Second, I argue that his view of contemplation as simple insight is significantly indebted to Neoplatonic sources; therefore, we must pay attention to the way he introduces Neoplatonic elements into his Aristotelian framework. I conclude this contribution by suggesting some reasons--of a theological nature--why Aquinas would have been drawn towards a non-discursive or "intuitive" notion of contemplation.
ISSN:2153-8441
Contains:Enthalten in: American catholic philosophical quarterly
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.5840/acpq2017227108