Contemplation, Intellectus, and Simplex Intuitus in Aquinas: Recovering a Neoplatonic Theme

Van Nieuwenhove, Rik

Abstract

This contribution examines two related points in relation to Aquinas’s understanding of contemplation, which is a sorely neglected topic in scholarship. First, after having outlined that the final act of contemplation culminates in an intellective, simple apprehension of the truth, I will examine how this act relates to the three operations of the intellect (grasping of quiddity, judgement, and reasoning) Aquinas identifies in a number of places. Second, I argue that his view of contemplation as simple insight is significantly indebted to Neoplatonic sources; therefore, we must pay attention to the way he introduces Neoplatonic elements into his Aristotelian framework. I conclude this contribution by suggesting some reasons—of a theological nature—why Aquinas would have been drawn towards a non-discursive or “intuitive” notion of contemplation.

Citation

Van Nieuwenhove, R. (2017). Contemplation, Intellectus, and Simplex Intuitus in Aquinas: Recovering a Neoplatonic Theme. American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly, 91(2), 199-225. https://doi.org/10.5840/acpq2017227108

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Apr 1, 2017
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2017
• Deposit Date: Sep 4, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 5, 2017
• Journal: American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly
• Print ISSN: 1051-3558
• Electronic ISSN: 2153-8441
• Publisher: American Catholic Philosophical Association
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 91
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 199-225
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5840/acpq2017227108
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1377411