Thomas Aquinas was a Catholic theologian and philosopher who lived during the late 12th and early 13th centuries in Italy He is widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of the Middle Ages, and is famous for his works in the field of theology. His works on natural law, ethics, and the relation between faith and reason have had an immense impact on the development of philosophy and theology. He is best known for his five major works: the Summa Theologica, the Summa Contra Gentiles, Disputed Questions on Truth, Disputed Questions on the Power of God, and On the Eternity of the World.
The best examples of Thomas Aquinas's writings include:
1. Summa Theologica: This is a comprehensive work of philosophy and theology written between 1265 and 1274 which argued for the existence of God, the immortality of the soul, and the real distinction between the physical and spiritual worlds. It is considered one of the most important theses of medieval philosophy.
2. Summa Contra Gentiles: This work is an attempt to reconcile faith and reason, and to prove the existence of God and his attributes. It includes an analysis of Aristotle's philosophy and uses arguments from natural theology to support Aquinas' conclusions.
3. Disputed Questions on Truth: This work was written as part of his commentary on Aristotle's metaphysical writings and contains Aquinas's ideas about truth, certitude, and the truth of scripture.
4. Disputed Questions on the Power of God: This work is an attempt to demonstrate that God is the source of all knowledge, power, and action. It examines the nature of the soul, knowledge, and other topics related to God.
5. On the Eternity of the World: This work discusses the question of whether the world had a beginning or is eternal. Aquinas argued that the world is eternal, but finite. He argued that the arrival of human beings gave the world purpose, and mystery.