Thomistic

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

  1. Relating to the philosophical and theological ideas derived from a medieval scholar known for integrating Aristotelian principles with Christian doctrine ; embodying interpretations or teachings based on this thinker’s systematic approach to metaphysics and ethics ; connected to the school of thought emphasizing natural law, reason, and theological synthesis attributed to this historical figure
  2. Pertaining to the doctrines and methods developed by a prominent medieval philosopher who combined classical philosophy with religious beliefs ; involving concepts and scholastic reasoning characteristic of a thinker who influenced Catholic theology and Western philosophy ; associated with a traditional philosophical framework that merges faith with rational inquiry inspired by this renowned scholar
  3. Concerning the philosophical system and theological framework established by a 13th-century intellectual who reconciled faith and reason ; reflecting the perspectives and commentaries linked to an influential figure in scholasticism and moral philosophy ; describing the comprehensive body of work and influence exerted by a scholar famous for his synthesis of ancient philosophy and Christian teaching

Etymology: Thomistic comes from Thomas Aquinas, the thirteenth-century Dominican friar whose name gave rise to the adjective through the Latin "Thomisticus," itself built on the Latinized "Thomas." The suffix "-istic" is a familiar English adjective ending, borrowed from Greek "-istikos" through Latin and French, which marks something as belonging to or characteristic of a person or school. Attaching it to Thomas produced a label for anything following his system. Aquinas spent his career reconciling Aristotle, whose works had recently returned to Western Europe through Arabic and Jewish translations, with Christian doctrine. His followers were called Thomists almost from the start, and the adjective came to describe the whole body of thought built on his synthesis of faith and reason. The term is most often used in English in discussions of scholasticism and Catholic philosophy, where it marks a particular line of reasoning about being, causation, and natural law.

Synonyms: scholastic, Aristotelian, medieval philosophy

Antonyms: modernist, secular