<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This paper analyzes Aquinas’ understanding of persuasion and its impact for apologetics. It consists of three parts. The first explains the meaning of persuasion in his writings and the philosophical framework. The second explore the manner of convincing others towards truth. Finally, attention is drawn to Aquinas’ argumentative strategies and his recommendations on how to deal with <italic>contradicentes fidei</italic>. This permits to understand the theological value of gift of counsel as God’s persuasive manner to bring human being to the ultimate end. It demonstrates the dignity and freedom of rational creature that reach God in this way and imitate God whose will is not arbitrary force, but proceeds by reasons.</p>
</abstract>

This paper analyzes Aquinas’ understanding of persuasion and its impact for apologetics. It consists of three parts. The first explains the meaning of persuasion in his writings and the philosophical framework. The second explore the manner of convincing others towards truth. Finally, attention is drawn to Aquinas’ argumentative strategies and his recommendations on how to deal with contradicentes fidei. This permits to understand the theological value of gift of counsel as God’s persuasive manner to bring human being to the ultimate end. It demonstrates the dignity and freedom of rational creature that reach God in this way and imitate God whose will is not arbitrary force, but proceeds by reasons.

Persuasive Faith. Aquinas on Convincing and Its Apologetical Significance

European Journal for the Study of Thomas Aquinas

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Persuasive Faith. Aquinas on Convincing and Its Apologetical Significance"}

This paper analyzes Aquinas’ understanding of persuasion and its impact for apologetics. It consists of three parts. The first explains the meaning of...

Persuasive Faith. Aquinas on Convincing and Its Apologetical Significance

Published Online: Oct 20, 2022

Page range: 78 - 89

Received: Feb 16, 2022

Accepted: Jul 27, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ejsta-2022-0004

Keywords
Biblical Thomism, persuasion, argumentative strategy, apologetics, exemplarism

© 2022 Piotr Roszak, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Persuasive Faith. Aquinas on Convincing and Its Apologetical Significance

Published Online: Oct 20, 2022

Page range: 78 - 89

Received: Feb 16, 2022

Accepted: Jul 27, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ejsta-2022-0004

KeywordsBiblical Thomism, persuasion, argumentative strategy, apologetics, exemplarism

© 2022 Piotr Roszak, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Biblical Thomism, persuasion, argumentative strategy, apologetics, exemplarism