Thomas Aquinas and Some Thomists on the Nature of Mathematics

• Published in: The Review of metaphysics Vol. 73; no. 4; pp. 715 - 740
• Main Authors: Svoboda, David, Sousedik, Prokop
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington The Philosophy Education Society, Inc 01-06-2020; Philosophy Education Society, Inc; Review of Metaphysics
• Subjects: Criticism and interpretation; Mathematical analysis; Mathematics; Methods; Philosophy; Realism (Philosophy); Science; Theologians; Theology; Thomas Aquinas, Saint; Thomism; Italy
• ISSN: 0034-6632; 2154-1302; 2154-1302
• DOI: 10.1353/rvm.2020.0033

According to the first and dominant one, mathematics is a real theoretical science and, together with the other disciplines open to man's natural powers of reason, constitutes a harmonious image of the entire universe. According to this, the mathematical sciences are not commensurable with theology or philosophy but represent a separate, independent type of human rationality. [...]in the fourth and final part, we give up the role of interpreter and propose an understanding of mathematics and its place in the whole of human knowledge that a Thomistic philosopher could endorse. [...]only that which is immaterial, necessary, and general corresponds to scientific rationality. [...]scientific rationality cannot properly investigate the constantly changing world.