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Hello Father Angelo,

I wanted to ask you for an elucidation of a philosophical nature. I saw with curiosity in a 14th century painting by Benozzo Gozzoli – Triumph of Saint Thomas Aquinas – the figure of the Arab philosopher Averroè lying on the floor at the feet of the Angelic Doctor, while next to the saint the classical philosophers Plato and Aristotle are standing. 

What is the sense of such particular representation?

I thank you for any possible explanations and send you my cordial and fraternal greeting in the Lord.

Paolo

Dear Paolo,

1. While Saint Thomas took handfuls of Plato and Aristotle, He instead took distance from some crucial points by Averroè, islamic philosopher.

2. One must remember that Saint Thomas got to know the writings of Aristotle  through the Arab philosophers, in particular from Avicenna e da Averroè.

The latter was known as the commentator on Aristotle par excellence, so much that Dante immortalised him in the Divine Comedy with these words: “Averroìs, che ‘‘l gran comento feo” (Inferno, IV, v. 144).

3. More precisely Saint Thomas detached himself from Averroè on the problem of the agent intellect, that is, on the abstraction and spiritual ability of men.

While Averroè said the agent intellect is one for everybody, Saint Thomas says that every man possesses in his soul the abstraction ability, in other words, the agent intellect. With that being said, Saint Thomas paves the way for spirituality and the immortality of the soul.

4. On this issue Saint Thomas wrote a pamphlet bearing this title: “De unitate intellectus contra Averroistas”.

5. Moreover, Saint Thomas did not share his religious faith with Averroè.

6. In the Tabula aurea by Peter of Bergamo, which takes up all themes by Saint Thomas, when one comes to Averroè, he can read through Saint Thomas’ words: “Averrois, Commentator, fuit totius philosophiae destructor” (The Commentator, He was the destroyer of the whole philosophy).

After that, these statements are provided with details. 

7. I think this statement clearly explains why Averroè is painted lying on the ground, below Saint Thomas’ feet.

I wish you all the best. I remind you to the Lord and bless you.

Father Angelo