John of St. Thomas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John of St. Thomas
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| Born | João Poinsot 9 July 1589 Lisbon, Portugal |
| Died | 15 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 |
John of St. Thomas (born João Poinsot) was a famous Dominican friar, theologian, and philosopher. He was born on July 9, 1589, in Lisbon, Portugal, and passed away on June 15, 1644, in Fraga, Spain. He is especially known for his early ideas in the field of semiotics, which is the study of signs and symbols.
Contents
His Life and Studies
John of St. Thomas came from a noble family. From a young age, he showed great talent. He went to the University of Coimbra in Portugal, where he studied humanities and philosophy and earned a Master of Arts degree. Later, he continued his studies at the Old University of Louvain and became a Bachelor of Theology.
Around 1612 or 1613, he joined the Dominican religious order in Madrid, Spain. This is when he took the name John of St. Thomas, which is how history remembers him.
A Respected Professor
John of St. Thomas became a professor of philosophy and theology at the University of Alcalá. He quickly became known as one of the smartest people of his time. Because of his great knowledge, he was given important teaching positions in theology at the university in 1630 and 1640. Many students came to his classes, more than had ever attended the theology programs there before.
People in Spain respected him greatly. They often asked him for advice on religious and philosophical questions.
His Dedication and Character
John of St. Thomas wrote many books on theology and philosophy. These books are considered some of the best explanations of the ideas of Thomas Aquinas, a very important philosopher and theologian. John of St. Thomas was known as one of the top experts on Aquinas's teachings.
Even though he took part in many academic debates, he was always polite and never upset his opponents. He was so loyal to the teachings of his order and to St. Thomas Aquinas that, during his final illness, he said he had never taught or written anything against St. Thomas in his 30 years of teaching.
He was a very humble person and loved education. He turned down many important positions offered to him by the Church and his order. However, in 1643, King Philip IV of Spain asked him to be the royal confessor (a spiritual advisor to the king). John of St. Thomas only accepted this important job because his religious order told him to.
His Important Writings
John of St. Thomas wrote several significant works during his life. These include:
- Cursus philosophicus Thomisticus: A large collection of books (9 volumes) on Thomistic philosophy.
- Cursus Theologici: Another large collection (9 volumes) that explains the Summa Theologica by St. Thomas Aquinas.
- Tractatus de Approbatione, Auctoritate, et Puritate Doctrinae D. Thomae Aquinatis: A book about the approval and purity of St. Thomas Aquinas's teachings.
- A Compendium of Christian Doctrine: A summary of Christian beliefs, written in Spanish.
- A Treatise on a Happy Death: A book about how to have a peaceful death, also written in Spanish for King Philip IV.
See also
In Spanish: Juan de Santo Tomás para niños
