Augustine in the Theology of Aquinas
The influence of St. Augustine on the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas is well known. So too are the broad divergences in their stylistic, philosophical, and theological methods. Generalizations about the relation between the two greatest Catholic theologians are commonplace. Often the commonalities of their thought (a shared “theology of grace”) or their structural contrasts (“Platonic” and “Aristotelian”) are assumed. This conference has two aims: First, we seek to highlight aspects Aquinas's theology, philosophy, and biblical exegesis where the influence of Augustine’s thought has not been sufficiently appreciated. Second, we seek to identify features of Augustine’s theology that are engaged, developed and debated in Aquinas and his disciples. The result of the conference will be a deeper appreciation of the Augustinian-Thomistic synthesis.