Scholasticism and witchcraft

[peterdamian]

J T Paasch has a good series on scholasticism and witchcraft here
jtpaasch.blogspot.com

He notes that "If you pick up a scholarly monograph that deals with the development of early modern witchcraft theory, you will most likely find a section titled something like ‘The Scholastic Origins’. And if you start to read that section, it will most likely begin by saying something like this: ‘Early modern witchcraft theorists derived many of their ideas from medieval scholastic writers, the most important of which is Thomas Aquinas’"

Then goes on to note, correctly, that Aquinas had no theory of witchcraft (although he does have a theory about demons).

[davedodo007]

Witchcraft theory? Demons? You can't parody a parody.

[blessedkarl]

Thank you, Damian. I love the various links you have provided and I have made great use of both the logic museum and, now, this. I have always thought, however, that there were mixed views on witchcraft. I understand that the Spanish Inquisition actually believed that people saying they were witches was a sign of insanity. At least that is what Henry Kamen stated in his book The Spanish Inquisition.

[peterdamian]

Thomas writes about demons in many places, of which here (Part 1, question 114) is very pertinent.
www.logicmuseum.com/authors/aquinas/summa/Summa-I-111-114.htm#q114a1arg1

I don't know much about the Inquisition. James has a lot in his book.

On whether it is a 'parody of a parady' - Thomas has an acute intellect and a philosophical disposition. There is always something of value to read in him.

If you don't like 'demons' or 'angels', replace 'demon' by 'alcohol' or 'heroin' or any other destructive urge or instinct or external agency. And replace 'angel' by 'preservation instinct' or 'survival instinct' or something like that. Then you see the problems Thomas discusses are real.