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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. What is a psychological purification process?

2. Whose will does Aquinas believe should always be fulfilled?

3. Objections and refutations to those objections are presented for what reasons?

4. Summa Theologica was originally written in what language?

5. Aquinas brings up the divergent views regarding what, saying that there are two lines of teaching?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Aquinas say about potentiality and actuality?

2. Describe the format of this book.

3. What do many of the questions and answers Aquinas discusses reveal about him?

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

5. What might someone who is not specially educated in the areas of philosophy and theology think of this book?

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

7. What is a Thomist?

8. Who is Dionysius?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Grace is the final subject in this book.

Part 1) What is grace? Why is it the final subject? Is it the last subject on purpose? Why or why not?

Part 2) What is the connection between grace and love? What does Aquinas believe about the importance of grace and love in regards to each other?

Part 3) What does Aquinas believe about grace in regards to sin? Is grace important for a man to rise from sin? Why or why not? Do you agree? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

St. Thomas Aquinas' work was severely challenged by powerful Arabian philosophy.

Part 1) How did Arabian philosophy become so powerful? Why did it challenge Aquinas' own philosophies?

Part 2) How did Aquinas deal with such challenges to his own philosophies? What aspects about his upbringing and personality aid him in this?

Part 3) What other philosophies and thinkers challenged Aquinas? Why? How does he handle these disagreements in this book? How does this affect the way that he expresses his ideas?

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