Re: [A-List] Edward Said]

[Gunnar Tómasson <gunnar.tomasson@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Re. the following:

Yet this view of modernity misreads history. Thomas Aquinas (1225-71)
benefited intellectually from his exposure to translations of works of
Aristotle from Greek into Latin by Arab scholars to whose world view he
became much indebted. He also profited intellectually from the rise of
universities in Europe during 12th and 13th centuries, notably the
University of Bologna (1088), known for its studies in law, the
University of Padua (founded by dissidents from Bologna), the University
of Paris, and Oxford University, all founded as centers of learning in
theology, not science. In this new intellectual milieu in Europe,
Aquinas applied Aristotelian syllogism as interpreted by Arab minds to
medieval mysticism of revelation. His Summa Theologica (1267-73) was a
systematic exposition of theology on rational philosophical principles
worked out by the ancient Greeks as modified by Arab precision and
algebra, which pioneered the use of variables in problem-solving in logic.

Comment:

After a life-time devoted to "systematic exposition of theology on rational
philosophical principles," Thomas Aquinas had a mystical experience shortly
before his death, which transformed his views on the subject matter.

"All my works seem like straw after what I have seen," he advised a friend.

As if it had dawned on him that "There are more things in heaven and earth
Than are dreamt of in [his] philosophy" as Prince Hamlet advised his friend
Horatio in Shakespeare's play.

Gunnar



----- Original Message -----
From: "Henry C.K. Liu" <hliu@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <pkt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <TheNewForum@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, September 26, 2003 11:11 AM
Subject: [Fwd: Re: [A-List] Edward Said]