A NOÇÃO DE "PREÂMBULOS DA FÉ" EM TOMÁS DE AQUINO

In this article, I will seek to study the notion of “preambles of faith” (praeambula fidei), as it is found in the works of Thomas Aquinas. Not always is this notion presented with these exact words. But it is possible to find a coherent doctrine from the works of youth up to the works of maturity of Thomas Aquinas. I will make the translation of the passages which may have not yet been translated into Portuguese. In order to do this study, I will base myself on the works of two authors: John Wippel and Dennis Brand. And also, following the example of these authors, I will study the utility that Thomas Aquinas attributes to the philosophical truths in the Summa Contra Gentiles, where it seems clear that Thomas uses such preambles of faith. As a result, we will be able to see the importance that Thomas Aquinas confers upon certain knowledge which is demonstrated by the philosophers, principally by Aristotle, such as, for example, the knowledge that God exists. We will see that, for Thomas Aquinas, such knowledge is presupposed in the articles of faith.