Philosophy

Philosophy is the pursuit of Wisdom by means of Reason. In the 13th century, St. Thomas Aquinas explained that true Philosophy divides into four classes: Rational Philosophy, by which man learns to order his thoughts; Moral Philosophy, by which man learns to order his will; Natural Philosophy, by which sman learns the order of created things in the natural world; and, Practical Arts, by which man learns to order external things in his control. In the first of the three philosophical sciences, Ethics, we study the science by which we may learn to pursue happiness by the right ordering of our will. Aristotle explained that the goal of this study is “not merely to know about virtue, but to be good men.” We study this science in Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics, following the interpretation provided by St. Thomas Aquinas. In the second of the three philosophical sciences, Physics, we study the science by which we may discover the order that exists in sensible things. We begin the study of this science in Aristotle’s Physics, following the interpretation provided by St. Thomas Aquinas. After this general study has been completed, students can move on to Aristotle’s minor works on natural philosophy, which include: De Caelo, De Generatione, Meteororum, De Mineralibus, De Anima, etc.. In the third of the three philosophical sciences, Metaphysics, we study the science by which we may discover the order that exists in insensible things. We begin the study of this science in Aristotle’s Metaphysics, following the interpretation provided by St. Thomas Aquinas.