Definition for Aquinas, Thomas
From Biology Forums Dictionary
Aquinas, Thomas (1225 to 1274): Scholastic philosopher and theologian. He studied with the Benedictines of Monte Cassino, and at the University of Naples; and, against the wishes of his family, entered the Dominican order of medicant friars (1244). His brothers kidnapped him and kept him captive for over a year. In 1252 he went to Paris, and taught there. His many writings display great intellectual power, and he came to exercise enormous intellectual authority throughout the Church. In his philosophical writings he tried to combine and reconcile Aristotle's scientific rationalism with Christian doctrines of faith and revelation. His best-known works are Summa Contra Gentiles (1259-64) which deals chiefly with the principles of natural religion and his unfinished Summa Theologiae (1266-73) which contains his mature thought and includes the "five ways" or proofs of the existence of God.