Lesson 29 –
Yes, There is a Theory of Everything!

It is common today for people to speak of a theory of everything, and many physicists are on a quest for a single all-encompassing account of the physical universe. But long before anyone ever spoke of a theory of everything, St. Thomas Aquinas already put one forward – in a manner of speaking. His was not a physical theory of all physical things, but a metaphysical theory of all things without qualification – whether physical or spiritual.

Course Reading

Commentary on Boethius’s De Trinitate, q. 5, a. 1, reply | St. Thomas Aquinas

Summa contra gentiles bk. I, c. 1 | St. Thomas Aquinas

Excerpt from the Summa contra gentiles bk I, c. 1:

The name of the absolutely wise man, however, is reserved for him whose consideration is directed to the end of the universe, which is also the origin of the universe. That is why, according to the Philosopher, it belongs to the wise man to consider the highest causes.

Now, the end of each thing is that which is intended by its first author or mover. But the first author and mover of the universe is an intellect, as will be later shown. The ultimate end of the universe must, therefore, be the good of an intellect. This good is truth. Truth must consequently be the ultimate end of the whole universe, and the consideration of the wise man aims principally at truth.

Course Listening

Theology: The Judge Of All Human Knowledge | Prof. Gregory LaNave

Christ as Wisdom | Prof. Marcus Plested

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.