In Thomas Aquinas' philosophy, contingency refers to things that have the possibility of existing or not existing. Contingent beings are those that depend on something else for their existence, such as created things in the physical world. Aquinas argues that contingent beings ultimately rely on a necessary being, God, for their existence, as God is the only being that exists necessarily and independently. Contingency plays a crucial role in Aquinas' arguments for the existence of God and the nature of causality in the world. **

The pronunciation of Thomas Aquinas is "TOM-us uh-KWY-nus." The first name is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable, and the last name is pronounced with the stress on the second syllable. **

Thomas Aquinas belonged to the Roman Catholic religion. He was a prominent theologian and philosopher in the Catholic Church, and his writings and teachings have had a significant influence on Catholic theology and doctrine. Aquinas is best known for his synthesis of Christian theology with the philosophy of Aristotle, and his work continues to be highly regarded within the Catholic tradition. **

Thomas Aquinas' cosmological proof of God is based on the idea that everything in the world is caused by something else. He argues that there must be a first cause, an uncaused cause, that started the chain of causation. Aquinas identifies this first cause as God, who is the ultimate source of all existence and the reason for the existence of everything else. This proof is based on the principle of causality and the idea that there must be a prime mover that set everything in motion. **

Thomas Aquinas' contingency proof is based on the idea that everything in the world is contingent, meaning it relies on something else for its existence. Therefore, there must be a necessary being, or God, that is the ultimate cause of all contingent beings. Aquinas' cosmological proof, on the other hand, argues that everything in the world is in motion or change, and there must be a first mover, or God, that initiated this motion. Both proofs aim to demonstrate the existence of God through logical reasoning and observation of the natural world. **

You can find quotes by Thomas Aquinas in his various works, such as "Summa Theologica" and "Summa Contra Gentiles." These works are widely available in libraries, bookstores, and online platforms. Additionally, there are many websites dedicated to compiling and sharing quotes by Thomas Aquinas, which can be a helpful resource for finding specific quotes. **

Critics of Thomas Aquinas and his philosophy argue that his reliance on Aristotelian metaphysics limits the scope of his thought and fails to adequately address the complexities of the modern world. Some also criticize his emphasis on faith and reason as potentially leading to a narrow and dogmatic approach to theology. Additionally, some scholars question the coherence of Aquinas' arguments, particularly in his Five Ways to prove the existence of God, suggesting that they may rely on questionable premises or logical leaps. **

One appropriate critique of the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas is that his reliance on natural theology and the use of reason to understand God may limit the scope of human understanding of the divine. Some critics argue that Aquinas' emphasis on rationality and the natural world may overlook the importance of personal religious experiences and the ineffable nature of the divine. Additionally, some scholars have criticized Aquinas for his reliance on Aristotelian philosophy, which may limit the diversity of perspectives in his theological framework. Overall, while Aquinas' philosophy has had a significant impact on Western thought, it is important to recognize its limitations and consider alternative perspectives. **