The 60-Second Aquinas
Lesson
The Human Soul as Intellect
August 12, 1998
The immediate difference noted between humans and God is that humans are comprised of matter, whereas God is a simple being, not composed of anything.
It has previously been determined that humans are made in the image and likeness of God, but it is rather obvious that we are very far removed!
However, we do have a soul that is not comprised of matter. Furthermore, this soul is judged to be intellectual in nature: "A being is intellectual because it is free from matter. …Whatever is immaterial, is intellectual" (Compendium Ch. 75).
Aquinas comes to this conclusion by pointing out that intellectual substances move corporeal ones. Our mind moves our body, in other words.
This intellectual substance within is called our soul and is closer to the image and likeness of God than our bodies are: "The higher a thing is in the scale of being [and intellectual substances are higher than bodies], the closer it draws likeness with God" (ibid.).
This further explains why we cannot know the true essence of God in this life. We are bound by our bodily limitations. But our souls, as intellectual substances, can know God once freed from those limitations.
Explanation of The 60-Second Aquinas Lesson
