John of St. Thomas

John of St. Thomas
Born	João Poinsot 9 June 1589 Lisbon, Portugal
Died	17 June 1644 Fraga, Spain
Occupation	Friar, philosopher, theologian
Education	University of Coimbra University of Louvain
Subject	Metaphysics, logic, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy, semiotics
Literary movement	Scholasticism, Thomism
Notable works	Tractatus de Signis

João Poinsot OP (Latin: Joannes a S. Thoma; 9 June 1589 – 17 June 1644), better known by the religious name of John of St. Thomas, was a Portuguese Roman Catholic priest, philosopher and theologian.

Biography

Of noble parentage, he was sent early to the University of Coimbra, displayed talents of the first order, completed his humanities and philosophy, and obtained the degree of Master of Arts. He then entered the University of Louvain. Here, too, he showed remarkable ability, and won the title of Bachelor of Theology at an early age. He joined the Dominicans at Madrid in 1612 or 1613, taking the name of John of St. Thomas, by which he is known to history. As professor of philosophy and theology at the University of Alcalá, he soon took rank among the most learned men of the time, and was placed successively (1630 and 1640) in charge of the two principal chairs of theology in the university of that city. His renown drew the largest number of scholars that had ever attended its theological faculties.

No man enjoyed a greater reputation in Spain, or was more frequently consulted on points of doctrine and ecclesiastical matters. His theological and philosophical writings, which have gone through many editions, are among the best expositions of Thomas Aquinas's doctrine, of which he is acknowledged to be one of the foremost interpreters. Though he took an active part in the scholastic discussions of his times, his courtesy was such that he is said never to have hurt an opponent's feelings. So faithful was he to the traditions of his order and the principles of the Angelic Doctor that in his last illness he could declare that, in all the thirty years he had devoted to teaching and writing, he had not taught or written anything contrary to St. Thomas. His humility and his devotion to education caused him to refuse many dignities offered him by the Church and his order. In 1643 Philip IV offered him the office of royal confessor, a position which only religious obedience could induce him to accept. His writings comprise: Cursus philosophicus Thomisticus (9 vols.); Cursus Theologici (9 vols.), which is a commentary on the Summa Theologica of St. Thomas; Tractatus de Approbatione, Auctoritate, et Puritate Doctrinae D. Thomae Aquinatis; A Compendium of Christian Doctrine (in Spanish); and A Treatise on a Happy Death (in Spanish), written at the command of Philip IV. He died at Fraga, Spain.

References

Beuchot, Mauricio (1999). Semiótica, filosofía del lenguaje y argumentación en Juan de Santo Tomás. Pamplona: Servicio de publ. de la Universidad de Navarra.

Espírito Santo, José Rafael (2016). Arte e Prudência em João Poinsot (João de São Tomás). Lisboa: Imprensa Nacional-Casa da Moeda.

Manzanedo, M. F. (2000). "Las pasiones según Juan de Santo Tomás," Studium, Vol. XL, No. 3, pp. 457–90.

Montecinos, Alejandro Miranda (2021). "La omisión en Tomás de Aquino y Juan de Santo Tomás," Tópicos, No. 60, pp. 375–410.

Moya Cañas, Patricia (2021). "Canals y Juan de Santo Tomás: algunas cuestiones gnoseológicas," Espíritu, Año 70, No. 162, pp. 283–304.

Filippini, Orietta (2006). La coscienza del re: Juan de Santo Tomás, confessore di Filippo IV di Spagna, 1643-1644. Florence: L.S. Olschki.

Pinharanda Gomes (1985). João de Santo Tomás na filosofia do século XVII. Lisboa: Instituto de cultura e língua portuguesa.

Prieto López, Leopoldo (2018). "La crítica de Juan de santo Tomás del concepto suareciano de materia prima," Scientia et fides, Vol. VI, No. 1, pp. 263–84.

Ramírez, J.-M. (1924). "Jean de Saint-Thomas." In: Dictionnaire de Théologie Catholique, Vol. VIII/1. Paris: Letouzey et Ane, pp. 803–808.

External links

• General Bibliography by Marco Forlivesi
• Works by John of St. Thomas at Gallica
• Works by John of St. Thomas at Open Library
• The rediscovery of John Poinsot – Annotated bibliography about the contributions of John of St. Thomas to semiotics
• Cursus Philosophicus Thomisticus – Latin text by John of St. Thomas
•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: