Thomas' influence isn't so much on modern psychology specifically as on the construction of natural science itself. It was, after all, the "Thomistic Synthesis" that proposed to divide the realms of theology and natural philosophy so that the latter could follow its own investigations of the natural world with relatively less interference from the former. Of course, by the time of the Reformation, Catholics were not so happy to abide by that epistemological "deal," but it was gradually re-established and, thus, we live in a world in which the Catholic and Anglican Churches more or less (with periodic lapses) accept the Copernican solar system, Big Bang cosmogony, mechanistic biology, the theory of evolution, etc. As for Protestants, however... :-)
The "first cause" stuff was a more or less direct lift from Aristotle, with a Christianized twist (as was much of Thomas' philosophy). Chris Green York U. Toronto =========== [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > Although classical history of psychology reverts to the early > speculations of philosophers re the nature of mind(Locke,Descartes),I > am just curious as to whether some ideas of Thomas Aquinas (Summa > Theologia) had any imprt > in the history of psychology.Aquinas did philosophize about a first > cause for virtually everything.Wouldn't this in keeping with the > deterministic aspects of psychoanalytic and behavioristic theories. > Any theologians on Tips? > > Michael Sylvester,PhD > Daytona Beach,Florida > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) > --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
