Thomistic Political Thought

Thomas Aquinas (1225?–74) was the most important philosopher and theologian of the high Middle Ages. Thomistic political thought shows his enduring influence on the history of political thought, particularly in the philosophical interpretation and practical application of his teaching on natural law. Thomas was an Italian priest who joined the new Dominican order of the Catholic church. He taught at the University of Paris and elsewhere. Of his many writings, the best known is his Summa Theologica (Summary of Theology), which he wrote as a textbook of theology for young students. After his death, he was canonized by the church as a saint; and eventually he was recognized by the church as an authoritative source of Christian philosophy and theology. Keywords: Aquinas; Darwinism; marriage; mixed constitution; natural law; scholasticism