Thomas Aquinas — Season 1, Episode 7: Aquinas's Anthropology
Documentary, Talk • 55 min • 1 season, 8 episodes
Episode synopsis
In lecture seven, we consider Thomas Aquinas's philosophical and theological anthropology—understanding humanity in light of God—particularly focusing on the complex relationship between body and soul. We trace the historical debate from Plato's dualistic view of the soul imprisoned in the body through Aristotle's more unified approach, showing how Aquinas synthesizes both traditions while remaining grounded in biblical teaching that affirms the goodness of both body and soul. The lecture concludes by discussing the imago Dei—the image of God within us—creating an unlimited yearning for truth and being itself. Bishop Barron shows how this divine image drives our restless quest for God, explaining why humans are fundamentally ordered toward the divine.
About Thomas Aquinas
In Thomas Aquinas, a seven-hour course, Bishop Robert Barron guides us through a study of the theological and philosophical system of Thomas Aquinas, the 13th-century Dominican friar who masterfully synthesized Ancient Greek philosophy with Christian doctrine. We examine his Five Ways for demonstrating God's existence, his understanding of divine attributes and the Trinity, and his teachings on creation, providence, and the problem of evil. The course delves into Aquinas's philosophical anthropology, particularly the relationship between body and soul and humanity's creation in God's image. We conclude by studying his ethical framework centered on finding happiness in God as humanity's ultimate goal, and the role of virtues in ordering human life toward God.