Medieval Philosophy - Term Paper Example

Examining the writings of Augustine and Aquinas provides textual comparisons in understanding how the two philosophers diverged in their opinions. Augustine The discussion that Augustine held about the Academicians shed light on his point of view where truth was concerned. He relates to his reader, within his letter to Romanianus, that the Academicians seem to believe that there are absolutes and that the truth is a defined place, although they do not know where that place exists. He suggests that moving away from the Academicians and towards philosophy reveals that the truth is defined by the fact that the truth is truth, that it moves through the subject and rests in places where all can discern that it is true, a common place where wisdom is attained.

In finding the center of truth, Augustine believes that it is through the study of philosophy that truth can be approached, but not through listening to those who would say that they know the truth definitively without knowing truth. Cicero states in Academica 2.10.32 that “[The Academicians] hold that something is plausible and in a way “truth like”, and that they employ this as a guide both in the conduct of life and in [philosophical] investigation and discussion” (Augustine 37). He goes on to discuss Zeno by saying “He contended that nothing can be perceived except what is true in such a way that it can be distinguished from the false by a dissimilarity in their marks, and that opinion should not enter the mind of the wise man” (Augustine 40).

His purpose in going against the Academicians can be summed up in this statement that Augustine makes “your Academicians should be likewise laughed at, since they say that in this life they follow something truth like, although they do not know what the truth is” (Augustine 44). The Academicians sought the truth, but did not claim to have found it. Augustine discusses that wise men had, previous to the Academicians, been wise because their culture determined that they knew the truth. Academicians, on the other hand, felt that a wise man continued on a search for the truth, but did not ever claimed to have found it.

Augustine states that “Reason, then…shows you that a wise man is the kind of person who is not ignorant of wisdom” (Augustine 60). Augustine makes the argument that human beings can find wisdom and that they can discern the truth. He suggests that having knowledge that determines the truth is in the purview of the wise man. Without this accession, there can be no such thing as a wise man. This argument, then, is suggesting that rational thought is in defining what is true. He argues against those who would suggest that it is not possible to ’know’ or to assess ’truth’.

In understanding, the human being shows that he has a capacity beyond animals. In his discussion with Evodius, he shows that the human sense of rationality comes from being able to understand beyond the inner sense. The inner sense can discern existence, but human reason can understand that there is existence. He moves through his discussion of understanding to explain wisdeom, then back to truth. He states “