Thomas, Christian

Thomas, Christian a modern philosopher, was born at Leipsic in 1665, and graduated at the Leipsic University. Reading Paffendorfs Apology for Rejecting the Scholastic Principles of Morals and Law, he determined to renounce all implicit deference to ancient dogmas. Brucker gives the following brief specimen of his peculiar tenets: "Thought arises from 'images impressed upon the brain, and the action of thinking is performed in the whole brain. Brutes are destitute of sensation. Man is a corporeal substance, capable of thinking and moving, or endued with intellect and will. Man does not always think. Truth is the agreement of thought with the nature of things. The senses are not deceitful, but all fallacy is the effect of precipitation and prejudice. From perception arise ideas and their relations, and from these, reasonings. It is impossible to discover truth by the syllogistic art… God is not perceived by the intellectual sense, but by the inclination of the will; for creatures affect the brain, but God the heart. All creatures are in God; nothing is exterior to him. Creation is extension produced from nothing by the divine power. Creatures are of two kinds, passive and active; the former is matter, the latter Spirit.. .. The human soul is a ray from the divine nature, whence it desires union with God, who is love," etc. Thomas died at Halle in 1728. He published, An Introduction to Puffendorf (1687): —A Defense of the Sect of the Pietists: —An Introduction to Aulic Philosophy, etc.: —Introduction to Rational Philosophy: —A Logical Praxis: —Introduction to Moral Philosophy : —A Cure for Irregular Passions: —Essay on the Nature and Essence of Spirit, etc.