Back to Aquinas Arguments

Method

Faith and reason

Reason can know some truths about God, while revelation gives truths beyond reason; genuine truth cannot contradict genuine truth.

Guiding question

How can philosophical inquiry and revealed doctrine belong together without confusion?

Why it matters

This distinction structures Aquinas's method and protects both rational inquiry and theological mystery.

The argumentative movement

  1. 1Some truths about God are accessible to natural reason, such as His existence.
  2. 2Other truths exceed reason, such as the Trinity and Incarnation, and are known by revelation.
  3. 3Because God is the source of all truth, real contradiction between faith and reason is impossible.