Ciencia teológica e intellectus fidei en Tomás de Aquino en la interpretación de Gottlieb Söhngen (1892-1971)

Abstract

Gottlieb Söhngen (1892-1971) was professor of Fundamental Theology at the University of Munich. Among his students was the young Joseph Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI, who wrote his doctoral and his habilitation theses under his direction. The present article deals with Söhngen’s interpretation of the relationship between science and wisdom, faith and intellectus fidei in the platonic-augustinian tradition and in Thomas Aquinas. Söhngen points out contrasts, as well as the complementarity between both approaches. Even if his interpretation of Aquinas remains behind the results of research in the following decades, the richness of his analysis and of some of his intuitions, e.g. regarding the relationship between theology and faith, is worth noting. G. Söhngen’s interpretation can be read in the context of his ideal of “unity of theology”, understood as a fruitful dialogue and synthesis of revelation and
scientifi c method, philosophy and theology, metaphysical and historical-salvific categories of thought.