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...
Main Author: | |
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Format: | Electronic Article |
Language: | English |
Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
Journals Online & Print: | |
Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
Published: |
Philosophy Documentation Center
[2017]
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In: |
American catholic philosophical quarterly
Year: 2017, Volume: 91, Issue: 2, Pages: 199-225 |
Further subjects: | B
Contemplation
B ARISTOTELIANISM (Philosophy) B REASONING (Logic) B LEARNING & scholarship B Neoplatonism |
Online Access: |
Presumably Free Access Volltext (doi) |
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. |
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ISSN: | 2153-8441 |
Contains: | Enthalten in: American catholic philosophical quarterly
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Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.5840/acpq2017227108 |