Back to delve in the Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas, a work which gave a scientific foundation, philosophy and theology to Christian doctrine.
Part
The sacred doctrine
Part
Issue 1 Article 8
If this doctrine to proceed with the dialectical method
seem that this doctrine does not proceed with the dialectical method. Fact:
1. Says S. Ambrose: "Take away the arguments, if it requires faith." Now, this doctrine is especially important to the faith, telling S. John: "These things are written that you may believe." Therefore sacred doctrine does not make use of dialectics.
2. If it were dialectic, should argue for or authority or reason. But authorities argue it is not expedient for his dignity because the argument of authority, according to Boethius, is the weakest of all. Topics for reason is unbecoming to his end, because, in the words of S. Gregory, "faith ceases to be meritorious if the evidence leads human reason." Therefore sacred doctrine does not make use of dialectics.
On the contrary: S. Paul speaks of the bishop says, "attached to the word of faith in accordance with the teaching had, in order to be able also to exhort in sound doctrine and refute those who contradict it."
RISPONDO : Come le scienze profane non devono dimostrare i propri principi, ma dai loro principi argomentano per dimostrare altre tesi, così la sacra dottrina non dimostrerà i propri principi, che sono gli articoli di fede; ma da essi procede alla dimostrazione di qualche altra cosa, come fa l'Apostolo, il quale dalla risurrezione di Cristo prova la risurrezione di tutti.
Tuttavia è da considerarsi che nelle scienze filosofiche le inferiori non solo non provano i loro principi, ma neanche discutono contro chi li nega, rilasciando ciò ad una scienza superiore, cioè alla metafisica. Essa, che tiene il primato su tutte le scienze, discute con chi nega i suoi principi solo nel caso che l'avversario ammetta qualche cosa; se nothing is impossible to give any discussion: it is then merely to refute the sophistry. But sacred doctrine does not have another science above itself, and then dispute it against anyone who denies its principles, arguing rigorously, if the opponent admits some truth of revelation, as when using the authority of the sacred doctrine played with heretics, or when using an article admitted fight against those who deny some more. And if the opponent does not believe anything that is revealed by God, then science has no more sacred way of bringing arguments in favor of articles of faith: not only have to counter the reasons that we can offer. It is clear, in fact, that placing faith on the infallible truth and being impossible to prove something true from the false, the tests they carry against the faith, they are not true demonstrations, but the arguments soluble.
Reply to: 1. Although the arguments of human reason do not apply to try things of faith, but moving the articles of faith, religious doctrine can try other things, as we have already said.
2. Authorities argue for just such a doctrine is particularly the fact that it derives its principles from revelation: it is therefore necessary that we think the authority of those to whom the disclosure was made. Neither this exemption the dignity of the sacred doctrine, because, although the topic of human authority is the weakest of all, the argument of authority based on divine revelation is the strongest. However
sacred doctrine is also used in the reasoning, not to prove the dogmas, because otherwise you lose the merit of faith, but to clarify some points of his teaching. Since the grace does not destroy nature but rather perfects it, the reason is to serve the faith, in the same way that the natural inclination of the will assist in the charity. And so, S. Paul says, "taking every thought to the obedience of Christ's slave." Thus the sacred doctrine also uses the authority of philosophers in which they earned by natural reason to know the truth, as did S. Paul quoted the saying of Aratus, "as well as some of your poets have said: We are the offspring of God." But these authorities
sacred doctrine makes use of arguments as strangers and probable, while the canonical authority of Scripture serves as its own arguments and rigorous. Then the judgments of the Doctors of the Church it serves almost as its own arguments, but a value only likely, because our faith rests on the revelation to the apostles and prophets, who wrote the canonical books not already on some other revelation, given that there is, made a few private doctor. In this respect, S. Augustine writes: "Only those books of Sacred Scripture, which are called canonical I recognize this honor: to believe firmly that none of their authors erred in anything in writing. The other authors then read them, but not in such a way that consider true what they say - no matter how great their sanctity and learning - simply because they have heard and written well. "
0 comments:
Post a Comment