Summa Theologica

The first part of Summa Theologica deals with God and the universe. Aquinas' goal in this section is to
demonstrate the existence of God and to explain how God interacts with the world. Here are some key
points:

1. The five ways: Aquinas provides five arguments for the existence of God. These arguments are
based on observation and reason rather than revelation. The five ways are:

 The argument from motion: Everything in the world is in motion, and this motion must be
caused by something. Therefore, there must be an unmoved mover, which we call God.

 The argument from causation: Everything in the world is caused by something else, but there
cannot be an infinite chain of causes. Therefore, there must be an uncaused cause, which we call
God.

 The argument from contingency: Everything in the world is contingent, meaning that it could
have not existed. Therefore, there must be a necessary being, which we call God, that explains
why anything exists at all.

 The argument from degrees of perfection: Everything in the world has different degrees of
perfection, but there must be a standard of perfection that everything is measured against.
Therefore, there must be a most perfect being, which we call God.

 The argument from teleology: Everything in the world has a purpose or end, and this purpose
must be directed by an intelligent being. Therefore, there must be an intelligent being, which we
call God.

2. God's attributes: Aquinas believes that God is simple, eternal, and all-knowing. God is also the
cause of all things, and everything in the world has a purpose or end that is directed by God.

3. Divine providence: Aquinas believes that God is actively involved in the world, providing for the
needs of all creatures. God's providence extends to both natural events and human actions.

4. Creation: Aquinas believes that God created the world out of nothing. He also believes that
creation is ongoing, meaning that God is constantly sustaining the world in existence.

5. The problem of evil: Aquinas addresses the problem of evil by arguing that evil is not a substance
or a thing, but rather a lack or privation of good. Evil exists because of the limitations of
creatures, not because of any fault in God.

Aquinas' treatment of ethics and morality in Summa Theologica is primarily focused on the nature of
human actions and the role of virtue in the moral life. Here are some key points:

Human actions: Aquinas argues that human actions are distinguished by their object, intention, and
circumstances. The object of an action is the thing being done, the intention is the purpose or end of the
action, and the circumstances are the specific details of the situation in which the action is performed.
Aquinas believes that the object of an action is the most important factor in determining its morality.

Virtue: Aquinas believes that virtue is the key to living a moral life. Virtue is a habit or disposition to act
in accordance with reason, and it is acquired through practice and habituation. Aquinas identifies two
types of virtues: intellectual virtues, which are acquired through learning and reasoning, and moral
virtues, which are acquired through practice and habituation.

Natural law: Aquinas believes that morality is based on the natural law, which is the innate sense of right
and wrong that is present in all human beings. The natural law is derived from the nature of human
beings and the purpose for which they were created. Aquinas argues that the natural law is knowable
through reason, and that it is the basis for all human laws.

Sin: Aquinas believes that sin is a violation of the natural law. Sin is an offense against God, and it
damages the relationship between human beings and God. Aquinas identifies two types of sin: venial
sin, which is a minor offense that does not completely sever the relationship with God, and mortal sin,
which is a serious offense that completely severs the relationship with God.

Grace: Aquinas believes that grace is necessary for salvation. Grace is the free and undeserved help that
God gives to human beings to overcome sin and to live a moral life. Grace is given through the
sacraments of the Church, and it enables human beings to participate in the divine life of God.

Aquinas' treatment of Christ and the sacraments in Summa Theologica is central to his theology of
salvation. Here are some key points:

1. Christ: Aquinas believes that Jesus Christ is the Savior of humanity. Christ is both fully human
and fully divine, and he bridges the gap between God and humanity. Christ's life, death, and
resurrection make it possible for human beings to be reconciled to God and to achieve salvation.

2. Sacraments: Aquinas identifies seven sacraments in the Catholic Church: baptism, confirmation,
the Eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick, holy orders, and marriage. Sacraments are visible
signs of God's grace, and they are effective because they are instituted by Christ himself.
Through the sacraments, human beings receive the grace they need to live a moral life and to
achieve salvation.

3. Eucharist: Aquinas places a special emphasis on the Eucharist, which he calls the "source and
summit" of the Christian life. In the Eucharist, the bread and wine become the body and blood of
Christ, and human beings are united with Christ in a mystical way. The Eucharist is a sacrament
of love, and it is meant to be a source of spiritual nourishment and strength for believers.

4. Baptism: Aquinas believes that baptism is the sacrament of regeneration. Through baptism,
human beings are cleansed of original sin and incorporated into the Body of Christ. Baptism is
necessary for salvation, and it is the gateway to the other sacraments.

5. Penance: Aquinas believes that penance is necessary for the forgiveness of sins. Through
penance, human beings confess their sins and receive absolution from a priest. Penance is a
sacrament of healing, and it is meant to bring human beings closer to God and to help them
overcome sin.
Summa Theologica is a seminal work of the medieval Christian theology written by Saint Thomas
Aquinas. Here are some important parts of Summa Theologica:

Aquinas' theory of natural law: Aquinas argues that there is a natural moral law that is accessible to
human reason. This law is based on the natural inclinations of human beings and is therefore
universal and objective. Aquinas also argues that human law should be based on natural law.

Aquinas' views on the nature of God: Aquinas believes that God is eternal, unchanging, and all-
knowing. He also argues that God is the cause of all things and that everything in the world has a
purpose or end.

Aquinas' views on human nature: Aquinas believes that human beings have a rational soul that is
distinct from their material body. He also believes that human beings have free will and that they are
capable of choosing good or evil.

Aquinas' synthesis of faith and reason: Aquinas argues that faith and reason are complementary
rather than contradictory. He believes that reason can lead to knowledge of God and the natural law,
but that faith is necessary for knowledge of divine mysteries.