The Self in Medieval Christianity

Question 1

_________ is the term used to describe the philosophical thought that emerged in Western Europe during the Middle Ages

Answer 1

Medieval Philosophy

Question 2

The Middle Ages spanned from the fall of ______ to the dawn of ______

Answer 2

Roman Empire, Renaissance

Question 3

He agreed with some Greek philosophers that the self is composed of both the body and soul and that the soul is the source of life and the unifier of the body.

Answer 3

St. Augustine of Hipo

Question 4

For St. Augustine, the _____ is the physical form that houses the soul.

Answer 4

body

Question 5

(True or False)

St. Augustine stated that only humans have souls, as they are the highest form of life

Answer 5

False, even plants and the world itself have souls

Question 6

(True or False)

St. Thomas Aquinas argued that human souls are immaterial and simple substances that know their existence and can think of God

Answer 6

False, it was St, Augustine of Hipo

Question 7

(True or False)

St. Augustine’s view on the soul’s excellence is its ability to remain immortal and rational

Answer 7

False; soul’s excellence is in its ability to reach God through its powers of reason and contemplation.

Question 8

(True or False)

The unchanging Truth according to St. Augustine is God

Answer 8

Truth

Question 9

(True or False)

St. Augustine shifted from Platonic to Christian philosophical point of view, as well as accepting Plato’s view on the rational, immaterial, and immortal soul

Answer 9

True

Question 10

(Fill in the blank analogy)

St. Augustine is to _______, while St. Thomas Aquinas is to _______

Hint: answers are Ancient Greek Philosophers

Answer 10

Plato; Aristotle

Question 11

In Aquinas’ _______, he emphasized the rationality of human beings, their capacity for knowledge, and their ability to choose between good and evil.

Answer 11

Summa Theologiae

Question 12

(True or False)

St. Aquinas believes that human souls can exist apart from their bodies while animals can not

Answer 12

True

Question 13

What power does the human soul has according to St. Aquinas that cannot be carried out through the brain or any other bodily instrument?

Answer 13

intellect

Question 14

Aquinas also argued that the human soul is __________, meaning that it has no natural basis for ceasing to exist once it is created by God

Answer 14

incorruptible

Question 15

In regard to Aquinas, incorruptibility of the human soul means ________

Answer 15

it will continue to exist without a human body