A Trial Exploration On Thomas’s Doctrine Of Reason And Faith

Thomas Aquinas(1225-1274), a famous Roman Catholic theologian and philosopher, who enjoys recognition in the history of European philosophy. The theoretical system he built is a typical medieval philosophy, as well as a representative of scholasticism at that time, and his philosophy which original colligated from Aristotle and Augustin constitutes one of the greatest system.Since the medieval times with the rational way to establish the belief, the theory of Thomas with the relationship between reason and faith has always been respected and study of western. Thomas has transformed Aristotle’s philosophical system, structured the new rational belief theory on the basement of rational cognition, and that is the reason why called his doctrine of philosophical theology. In the west, the thought of Thomas has become a rich resource of philosophical research, and the interests in the idea have been revived. So far there are still many people believe his views not outdated and its research value, the human value of his theory has showing us the concern and reflection on its reality of human existence.With the development of rational knowledge, people began to reflect on the beliefs constantly, even now the peace time, thinking and understanding of belief still need to go back to Thomas’s theory of rational belief. The reason and faith of Thomas’s theory can make a resonance between social reality and individuals, and this theory also could be specific applied to the various strata of society. Thomas himself is a key character turning to the modern philosophy, and in some extent, not only Thomas had made himself the beliefs of his age, but also made the huge theory system structure a source of the spirit of Western civilization and culture, and the influence on the later Western belief theory is still continued. Although the rational theory of Thomas’s itself may be restricted with the features of that times, and this contradiction can’t be eliminated, however, it is the contradiction which cause us to think of his theory of human existence purpose--the value of human existence is contained in the faith, while the philosophers of modern rationalism have also gradually realized the important of humanistic value. Therefore, Thomas has brought us more than rational beliefs, his theory also guide us to reflect on faith rational, and to our society, his theory provides important reference significance to the search the faith for the contemporary value and realistic meaning.