Chapter Chronology

Quiz for Primary Source 10.4: Thomas Aquinas on Reason and Faith

Question

1. With which of these statements would Aquinas have likely agreed?

A.
B.
C.
D.
Correct. The answer is a. Aquinas believed that “human reason naturally moves step by step from the imperfect to the perfect.”
Incorrect. The answer is a. Aquinas believed that “human reason naturally moves step by step from the imperfect to the perfect.”

Question

2. According to Aquinas, which of these was capable of attaining a “profound knowledge of intelligible things”?

A.
B.
C.
D.
Correct. The answer is d. Aquinas believed most people possessed an average ability to gain insight into intelligible things, a few had little capacity in this context, and a few were capable of extraordinary insights.
Incorrect. The answer is d. Aquinas believed most people possessed an average ability to gain insight into intelligible things, a few had little capacity in this context, and a few were capable of extraordinary insights.

Question

3. According to Aquinas, which could be proven using natural reason alone?

A.
B.
C.
D.
Correct. The answer is a. Aquinas believed that the fundamental things one needed to know in order to understand Christianity were provable using natural reason.
Incorrect. The answer is a. Aquinas believed that the fundamental things one needed to know in order to understand Christianity were provable using natural reason.

Question

4. Which of these did Aquinas believe to be impossible?

A.
B.
C.
D.
Correct. The answer is b. Aquinas believed that insights gained through reason and insights gained through faith were both gifts of God and therefore must be compatible.
Incorrect. The answer is b. Aquinas believed that insights gained through reason and insights gained through faith were both gifts of God and therefore must be compatible.