Aquinas drew significant inspiration from Aristotle. Aquinas acknowledged this influence, even labeling Aristotle as "The Philosopher." He integrated Aristotelian perspectives in his discussions about physical matter, concepts of time and space, and in his cosmology. His ethical philosophy is intricately linked to Aristotelian thought, as he provided extensive analysis in numerous fields of Aristotelian philosophy that may have otherwise stayed obscure. However, this does not imply that Aristotle was his sole educational source or that his ideas are mere adaptations of Aristotle's. Aquinas established a fresh perspective on life and the universe, which distinctly set him apart from all preceding or following authors.
This contributes to the feeling of despair that Lorenzo experiences.
