PHI 108

The Search for Truth

INTRODUCTION:

We often think that having faith is believing in something that is irrational, and hence contrary to reason.
Aquinas rejects such a view. At the same time, however, he acknowledges that faith and reason are
different in significant ways. Your primary job in this reading is to identify how faith is both like and
unlike the two ways that we form rational beliefs: (1) beliefs which yield knowledge—i.e. those beliefs
which are based upon irrefutable reasoning or evidence—or what Aquinas calls scientia and (2) beliefs
which yield formed opinions—i.e. those beliefs which are based upon reliable, but perhaps not irrefutable,
reasoning or evidence.
As always, use the questions below to guide your reading. If you have any questions, please don’t
hesitate to contact me. Best of luck.

ASSIGNED READING:
 Brian Davies, “Faith” (selections from his The Thought of Thomas Aquinas)
- you may skip §2. “Faith and Propositions”
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:

1) What was the most important thing that you learned from the previous class session? Why do
you find this important?

2) What is one question you have that stems from the previous class session or reading?

READING QUESTIONS:

1) Explain, according to Aquinas, the ways in which faith consists of more than believing in the
existence of God.
Faith is the virtue of wanting and attaining God.
2) Using your own words, do your best to explain how knowledge and faith differ for Aquinas.
Faith is believing in God and his good while knowledge is understanding God’s good
3) Using your own words, do your best to explain how [formed] opinion and faith differ for
Aquinas.
Opinion is a lack of vision and consequent hesitance, in Aquinas’ eyes there is only lack of
vision in fait
4) Using your own words, do your best to explain how knowledge and faith are similar for
Aquinas (Davies’ doctor/patient analogy will be helpful here).
To have faith is to know the truth of god which is knowledge but they do not understand the
truth.
5) Looking at your answers to the above three questions, do your best to explain Aquinas’ view
that faith is “mid-way between science (i.e. knowledge) and [formed] opinion” (along with
Davies’ exposition toward the beginning of the reading, the passage quoted on page 282 from
Aquinas’ ST 22ae. 2.1 will be helpful here).
Although they do not see God, they know he is there. Although they do not understand the
truth the know the truth.
6) Explain, in your own words, why Aquinas “does not think that those with faith must lack
reason for believing as they do.”
Because faith is wrought in us by God