The Metaphysical, Epistemological, and Theological Background to Aquinas's Theory of Education in the De Magistro

Publication Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

10-2014

Abstract

This article explores the relation between Aquinas’ metaphysical, epistemological and theological ideas and his theory of education as presented in the De Magistro and other writings. Aquinas’ theory of education is based on a theological metaphysics of human nature and an account of human rationality that is grounded in human nature. In the first section after the introduction we provide a synopsis of Aquinas’ metaphysical narrative, but in a contemporary key that draws upon the resources of Analytical Thomism. However, this theologically inspired metaphysics leads to a somewhat neglected epistemology that is crucial to his understanding of teaching and learning in the De Magistro – the notion of connatural knowledge that we explore in the second section. Our exposition of the Thomistic ontology of the human person together with the notion of connatural knowledge, provide the context for understanding the De Magistro in the third section.

Keywords

connaturality, education, epistemology, substance-metaphysics, theology

Discipline

Philosophy

Research Areas

Humanities

Publication

Pacifica

Volume

27

Issue

3

First Page

315

Last Page

338

ISSN

1030-570X

Identifier

10.1177/1030570X15573885

Publisher

SAGE

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1177/1030570X15573885

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