Saint Thomas Aquinas For a long time Thomas was either ignored
or misunderstood by even the greatest philosophers, but his
teachings ultimately triumphed. That they are official in the
Roman Catholic Church does not mean that Catholics may not
adhere to other philosophies, notably the Scotist teachings,
developed from the doctrines of Duns Scotus. St. Thomas's
synthesis is now recognized as one of the greatest works of
human thought. His wide-embracing philosophy can be applied to
every realm of human life. The terms New Thomism, neo-Thomism,
and neo-scholasticism are used for a school of philosophy of the
20th cent. The Catholic leaders of this school were Étienne
Gilson and Jacques Maritain, who sought to apply Thomistic
principles to modern economic, political, and social conditions.
Non-Catholics also have adapted Thomistic principles to modern
life; a leader among them is Mortimer Adler. The Columbia
Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia
University Press. All rights reserved.