Lesson 1 –
Science and the Search for Wisdom

St. Thomas Aquinas would advise us that, as we use the light of reason that belongs to human beings by nature, we should also have an open mind to the supernatural: to the possibility that, by grace, a higher light could illuminate our minds. This supernatural light — the light of faith — does not extinguish the light of reason or undermine the truths discovered by human sciences; rather, it supplements and aids reason, helping us to see more deeply into the truth of reality as a whole, which comes from God and has its ultimate destiny in him.

Course Reading

The Way toward Wisdom: An Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Introduction to Metaphysics | Selection from Fr. Benedict Ashley, O.P.

Summa Theologiae Ia Q. 2, a. 3, ad. 2 | St. Thomas Aquinas

From Fr. Benedict Ashley, O.P.’s The Way toward Wisdom: An Interdisciplinary and Intercultural Introduction to Metaphysics:

“The subject of natural science is being, but only changeable being (ens mobile). Yet, in establishing its own foundations, natural science finds it necessary to explain the very existence of changeable being by concluding, first (with necessity) to the existence of an immaterial First Cause; then (problematically) to the strictly immaterial nature of human intelligence; and finally (with some probability) to the existence of superhuman spirits. These are all known a posteriori, that is, as unobservable causes reasoned to from observed effects.” 

Course Listening

Does Science Need Faith? | Fr. Anselm Ramelow, O.P.

Supplemental Aquinas 101 videos from Course 1

This episode was made possible through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this project are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.