View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. The objections in this book are legitimate opposition to what?

2. Aquinas observes that while "the Philosopher" claims that the human intellect can have perfect knowledge, he uses Aristotle to refute this. He cites an observation made in De Anima to prove this. What does he say is in the mind's understanding of things?

3. Is created truth eternal, according to Aquinas?

4. According to Aquinas, is God truth?

5. What was Damascene?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Aquinas say to the objections that the will of God must always be fulfilled?

2. What does Aquinas say about God's action and essence?

3. How does Aquinas' education benefit him?

4. What does Aquinas say about the First Article: Whether a Name Can be Given to God?

5. What is Aquinas' response about truth?

6. What does Aquinas say about whether there is will in God?

7. What are your thoughts on the layout of the Summa Theologica?

8. What is Aquinas' response to Question LXXV On Man who is Composed of a Spiritual and a Corporeal Substance: And First, Concerning What Belongs to the Essence of the Soul?

9. Who is Aristotle? How is he important to this book?

10. When Aquinas turns to the debate format, what does he assume? What are the consequences of this?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The question is asked whether there is power in God.

Part 1) What does Aquinas mean by power? How does this support his belief about whether there is power in God? Do you agree? Why or why not?

Part 2) How is God's power reflected in humanity and the idea of unity?

Part 3) How does the discussion of God's power lead to questions about his omnipotence? How does Aquinas' view of God's power reinforce his beliefs about God's omnipotence?

Essay Topic 2

A lot is said about man who is composed of a spiritual and a corporeal substance.

Part 1) What is meant to have spiritual substance and corporeal substance? How is this idea of two substances supported by Aquinas?

Part 2) How does this belief in both substances relate to the soul? How do these substances affect the soul's corruptibility? Why?

Part 3) How might a reader's knowledge today of biology and neuroscience affect one's ability to believe Aquinas' ideas?

Essay Topic 3

It is discussed whether the intellectual principle is multiplied according to the number of bodies.

Part 1) How does this continue to discussion from number 10? What does this have to do with agents and actions? How successful is Aquinas at supporting his belief about the intellectual principle? Why?

Part 2) What does Aquinas think of individuating qualities? How is this connected to Jesus and forgiveness?

Part 3) What does Aquinas think of the idea of many souls? Why? What are your thoughts on this?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,242 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample