Philosiphizing With a Wall

Hammurabi felt that his code of law and his position as ruler were ordained by the god Marduk. He was clearly an unquestioned master. His divine justification, and the declarative way in which he pronounced another’s death sentence imply that he would be a hard and taciturn figure in conversation. St. Thomas Aquinas also felt that his beliefs were divinely inspired. St. Thomas on the other hand preferred to explain divine truths through dialogue and patient explanation. Both would be rigid in their desire to convince the other of their own beliefs. Hammurabi would be curt and unbending, like arguing with a brick wall. He would state his point and say little more. Aquinas would attempt to circumlocate Hammurabi’s logic, while throwing in a dose of proselytizing. The Saint would continue patiently, receiving the same basic responses until Hammurabi became bored and returned to conquering and killing.