1 Which religious order did Aquinas join, against the wishes of his family?
Correct. Aquinas joined the Dominicans, a new mendicant order devoted to preaching and study. His family objected so strongly that they held him captive for about a year to change his mind.
Aquinas joined a mendicant order of preachers founded in the early thirteenth century. Revisit Aquinas' Life and Context for the story of his family's resistance.
2 What is the name of the large work by Aquinas from which our readings are drawn?
Correct. Our readings come from the Summa Theologiae, Aquinas's massive and unfinished synthesis of theology and philosophy, organized as Questions divided into Articles.
Two of these titles belong to other authors we know: Aristotle and Augustine. Look for Aquinas's own systematic summary of theology.
3 In an Article of the Summa, which part contains Aquinas's own position and argument?
Correct. Each Article lists objections, then a 'sed contra' citing an authority, and then 'I answer that,' where Aquinas gives his own position and argument before replying to the objections.
The objections state views Aquinas will answer, and the sed contra cites an authority on the other side. Ask where in the Article Aquinas speaks in his own voice.
4 Which of the following is NOT part of Aquinas's four-part definition of law from Question 90?
Correct. Aquinas defines law as an ordinance of reason, for the common good, made by whoever has care of the community, and promulgated. Penalties may support law, but they are not part of what makes something law.
Aquinas's definition has four elements: reason, the common good, proper authority, and promulgation. Check which option names something outside that definition.
5 According to Aquinas, what is the relationship between reason and revelation?
Correct. For Aquinas, truth cannot contradict truth. Reason and revelation reach the same truth by different routes, so an apparent conflict means an error has crept in somewhere.
Aquinas was not a fideist who set faith against reason. Revisit Reason and Faith: he holds that both come from the same source and so cannot ultimately disagree.
6 Which of the following is one of the four kinds of law Aquinas identifies in Question 91?
Correct. Aquinas identifies four kinds of law in Question 91: eternal, natural, human, and divine.
Question 91 names four kinds of law: eternal, natural, human, and divine. Only one of these options appears on that list.
7 For Aquinas, what is the eternal law?
Correct. Eternal law is the plan of divine wisdom by which God governs the whole of creation. Every other kind of law derives from it.
Eternal law is more fundamental than any written code or scientific law of nature. Ask what Aquinas thinks ultimately orders all of creation.
8 What is the relationship between natural law and eternal law, according to Aquinas?
Correct. Natural law is rational creatures' participation in the eternal law. Through reason, human beings grasp part of the divine plan as it applies to them.
Natural law and eternal law are related but not identical. Aquinas's word is 'participation': ask how rational creatures share in the divine plan.
9 According to Aquinas, human law derives its authority from:
Correct. A human law is legitimate insofar as it is derived from natural law. A law that contradicts natural law lacks the nature of law, which is the basis for Aquinas's claim that an unjust law is no law at all.
For Aquinas, neither force nor custom nor consent is the deepest source of a law's authority. Ask what a just human law must be derived from.
10 Which of the following is NOT one of the three layers of natural inclination Aquinas identifies in Question 94?
Correct. Aquinas's three levels are inclinations we share with all substances (self-preservation), with animals (reproduction and raising young), and those proper to rational beings (knowing truth and living in society). Contemplating God directly with the angels is not one of them.
Question 94 builds natural inclinations up in three layers, from what we share with all things, to what we share with animals, to what is proper to reason. Find the option that is not one of those layers.