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

Short Answer Questions

1. How can the Summa Theologica be described?

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. What is the format designed to suit?

4. The truth or perception is that the living soul is the mind intimately associated with what?

5. Many of the questions in the Summa Theologica are ____________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Dionysius?

2. Describe the format of this book.

3. 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?

4. Describe the writing of the Summa Theologica.

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

6. How does Aquinas' education benefit him?

7. What is said about whether the intellectual principle is united to the body as its form?

8. How was Aquinas able to write this book successfully?

9. The sixth article takes up the matter of the puzzle of whether the human soul is corruptible or incorruptible. What does Aquinas say about this?

10. What is said in response to the question of whether truth resides only in the intellect?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

One set of questions in the text is focused on the issue of law.

Part 1) What laws is Aquinas discussing? What are four questions being asked about law? Why is each asked?

Part 2) What different types of laws exist? Compare them to one another.

Part 3) What is the purpose of discussing laws? How does it reflect and reinforce other topics discussed in this book?

Essay Topic 3

Aquinas discusses the difference between moral and intellectual virtues.

Part 1) What is the difference? Is every virtue a moral one, according to Aquinas? Why or why not? Do you agree? Why or why not?

Part 2) What types of moral virtues exist? Why? Is there a significant difference between the different types of moral virtues? Why or why not?

Part 3) What is the overall message and purpose of Aquinas' discussion of morality and virtue?

(see the answer keys)

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