Aquinas selects rational arguments to justify foregone religious conclusions.

Evidence

The appeal to reason is, in a sense, insincere, since the conclusion to be reached is fixed in advance. — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 1751

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 1751
• XREF: connects to: Scholastic philosophy operates within orthodoxy and uses syllogistic reasoning — Bertrand Russell, History of Western Philosophy, 1658; Scientific rationalism shades into the very faith it claims to dismiss; One can entertain arguments as legitimate while rejecting their conclusions as unjustified. — Philip Chase Bobbitt, Reflections Inspired by My Critics, 452

Broader Connections

• Scientific rationalism shades into the very faith it claims to dismiss #corroborates (0.85)
• One can entertain arguments as legitimate while rejecting their conclusions as unjustified. #complicates (0.80) — Philip Chase Bobbitt, Reflections Inspired by My Critics, 452