The article analyzes the features of the philosophy of education of the outstanding representative of medieval scholasticism, philosopher and teacher, Thomas Aquinas, the knowledge of which is necessary, firstly, to understand how the formation of the philosophical and pedagogical thought of Thomas Aquinas took place; secondly, to find out which educational concepts he borrowed from his predecessors, and which he introduced into pedagogical practice himself. The purpose of studying the philosophical and pedagogical concepts of education of Thomas Aquinas will require the solution of the following tasks: 1) to identify the features of the medieval education system and trace the history of its evolution; 2) to analyze how the philosophy of the late Middle Ages correlates with the Greco-Roman and Christian education systems; 3) to clarify the worldview foundations of the philosophy of education of Thomas Aquinas and its influence on Western European education. Theoretical and methodological concepts of education developed by Thomas Aquinas served as the basis for the formation of Western European pedagogical science. In Russian pedagogical science, these educational developments were not as widespread as in the West and were not carried out according to its original developments. The scientific novelty of the philosophy of education of Thomas Aquinas is characterized by the fact that its pedagogical basis is laid in his worldview concepts, in the scientific literature of Western authors, who give a holistic view of his pedagogical system. In conclusion, a conclusion is made about the relevance of his educational concepts, which he introduced into modern pedagogical science.

Keywords: Thomism, Thomas Aquinas’ scholastic philosophy of education, Aristotle’s philosophy, Catholic education system of the late Middle Ages, pedagogical science.