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→Liberalism
== Liberalism ==
== Liberalism ==
Some conservatives have argued that Thomas Aquinas was an important influence on the development of liberalism for his optimism in human reason. The conservative Senator John P. East, a former professor of political philosophy, wrote:
Some conservatives have argued that Thomas Aquinas was an important influence on the development of liberalism due to his optimism in human reason. The conservative Senator John P. East, a former professor of political philosophy, wrote:
"To put the matter bluntly, modern liberal Catholicism, and its non-Catholic associates, have preferred Aquinas over Augustine. Leo XIII set the tone in Aeterni Patris. He acknowledged the greatness of Augustine, but indicated that this early Saint is a stepping stone on the way to the summit, which is Aquinas. As Aquinas showed that faith and reason are compatible, the Pope contended his philosophy would serve as a bridgebuilder to the secular rationalist. Aquinas’ reliance upon “reason” has great appeal to modern liberals; however, the matter broadens beyond that, for Aquinas leads to Aristotle, while Augustine points to Plato, and within liberal thinking the former two are preferred."<ref>John P. East, “The Political Relevance of St. Augustine,” Modern Age 16 (Spring, 1972), 168.</ref>
"To put the matter bluntly, modern liberal Catholicism, and its non-Catholic associates, have preferred Aquinas over Augustine. Leo XIII set the tone in Aeterni Patris. He acknowledged the greatness of Augustine, but indicated that this early Saint is a stepping stone on the way to the summit, which is Aquinas. As Aquinas showed that faith and reason are compatible, the Pope contended his philosophy would serve as a bridgebuilder to the secular rationalist. Aquinas’ reliance upon “reason” has great appeal to modern liberals; however, the matter broadens beyond that, for Aquinas leads to Aristotle, while Augustine points to Plato, and within liberal thinking the former two are preferred."<ref>John P. East, “The Political Relevance of St. Augustine,” Modern Age 16 (Spring, 1972), 168.</ref>