THEO3691: Thomas Aquinas: Background, Context and Legacy

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• To introduce students to the theology of Thomas Aquinas and his place in the history of Christian thought.
• Through the work and influence of Aquinas, to familiarize students both with the ways that philosophy and theology intersect, and with the issues facing, along with the methods used, in ecumenical dialogue.

• Thomas Aquinas has come to be treated as the archetypal Catholic thinker. This module will introduce students to the theology of Thomas Aquinas, but also to the context that nurtured his theology (including both his cultural context and the developments that led to the rise of scholasticism). Students will explore Thomas' work on significant theological topics such as the nature of theology, revelation, God, Trinity, creation and soteriology. Emphasis will be laid on working with primary sources. The course will end by considering Thomas' reception and legacy for subsequent Christian thought.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• A systematic understanding of key aspects, and a coherent and detailed knowledge of the thought of Thomas Aquinas with regard to significant topics in Christian theology including revelation, God, Trinity, creation, and salvation.
• A broader understanding of the development of Christian thought in the medieval period, and of the way that Thomas' thought is shaped by his historical context.
• A knowledge and understanding of the philosophical resources used in theology, and of the way that the use of these resources shapes theological work.
• A knowledge and understanding of the way that Thomas' thought shaped subsequent Christian thinking.

Subject-specific Skills:

• An ability to read, interpret, and evaluate critically the thought of Thomas Aquinas on the basis of primary and secondary sources.

Key Skills:

• Skills in the acquisition of information through reading and research, and in the structured presentation of information in written form.
• Skills in the analysis of texts, concepts and arguments.

• Seminars enhance subject-specific knowledge and understanding both through preparation and through interaction with students and staff, promoting awareness of different viewpoints and approaches, and enhancing skills in the analysis of texts, concepts and arguments.
• Formative essays develop subject knowledge and enhance student skills in the acquisition of information through reading and research, and in the structured presentation of information in written form. This module requires short reading response assignments, which encourage students to deepen their subject-specific knowledge by engaging carefully with a key text.
• Summative essays assess subject-specific knowledge and understanding, along with student skills in the acquisition of information through reading and research, and in the structured presentation of information in written form.
• Examinations assess subject-specific knowledge and understanding, along with student skills in the structured presentation of information in written form under time constraints.

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