Saint Thomas Aquinas: Getting Started

Foster, Kenelm. Contents: Bibliography and abbreviations (p. X-XII)--Introduction.--The life of St. Thomas Aquinas, by Bernard Gui.--From the first canonisation enquiry.--From the Historia ecclesiastica of Tolomeo of Lucca.--From the Vitae fratrum of Gerard de Frachet.--From the Cronica brevis of Gerard de Frachet.--A letter of the Faculty of Arts in the University of Paris.--Appendix 1. Note on St. Thomas’s family.--Appendix 2. An Italian sonnet attributed to St. Thomas.

pages 49-56.

Kretzmann's and Stump's book aids in introducing Aquinas and supplementing the study of him. Topics include Aquinas's philosophy in its historical setting, Aristotle and Aquinas, Aquinas and Jewish and Islamic thinkers, metaphysics, philosophy of mind, ethics, theory of knowledge, law and politics, and Biblical commentary and philosophy.

Thomas Aquinas (1224/6-1274) lived an active, demanding academic and ecclesiastical life that ended while he was still comparatively young. He nonetheless produced many works, varying in length from a few pages to a few volumes.The present book is an introduction to this influential author and a guide to his thought on almost all the major topics on which he wrote. The book begins with an account of Aquinas's life and works. The next section contains a series of essays that set Aquinas in his intellectual context. Theyfocus on the philosophical sources that are likely to have influenced his thinking, the most prominent of which were certain Greek philosophers (chiefly Aristotle), Latin Christian writers (such as Augustine), and Jewish and Islamic authors (such as Maimonides and Avicenna). The subsequent sectionsof the book address topics that Aquinas himself discussed. These include metaphysics, the existence and nature of God, ethics and action theory, epistemology, philosophy of mind and human nature, the nature of language, and an array of theological topics, including Trinity, Incarnation, sacraments,resurrection, and the problem of evil, among others. These sections include more than thirty contributions on topics central to Aquinas's own worldview. The final sections of the volume address the development of Aquinas's thought and its historical influence. Any attempt to present the views of a philosopher in an earlier historical period that is meant to foster reflection on that thinker's views needs to be both historically faithful and also philosophically engaged. The present book combines both exposition and evaluation insofar as its contributorshave space to engage in both. This Handbook is therefore meant to be useful to someone wanting to learn about Aquinas's philosophy and theology while also looking for help in philosophical interaction with it.

Translated from the Dutch by Herbert Donald Morton.

These two volumes provide the basic philosophy of Saint Thomas in the areas of man, law, morality, God, angels, creation, and faith. The volumes contain English translations of Thomas's most widely read treatises. An introduction on the 13th century and on Thomas is given, as well as an index to aid in reading his works.

New edition on order. Check catalog for status.

New edition on order. Check catalog for status.

A synthetic summary of major themes and emphases in the corpus of Thomas. Treats theological language, divine attributes, theological anthropology, grace and Christology. Useful as a companion to primary texts.

Written from 1265-1274, the Summa Theologica is St. Thomas Aquinas' greatest work. Originally written for the "instruction of beginners." Organized systemically for the clearest way of "setting forth" the "sacred doctrine," Aquinas addresses many of Christianity's most pertinent questions in this multi-volume work. The First Part of the Summa begins with the existence and nature of God, before moving to creation and the nature of man. The Second Part contains his examination of morality and law; it also provides his account of the theological virtues, the cardinal virtues, and the seven deadly sins. The Third Part, uncompleted due to Aquinas' death, treats the incarnation and the sacraments. Taken together, the three parts compose one of the most impressive works of Christianity. Indeed, countless people from many centuries have studied and learned from the Summa; it has been widely influential from Aquinas' own day to the present. Hence, those with a passing inquiry or a serious question, an existential concern or a philosophical problem, can learn much from reading and studying St. Thomas Aquinas.

The most essential philosophical passages of St. Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica / edited and explained for beginners by Peter Kreeft.

Arguably the most influential work of systematic theology in the history of Christianity, Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologiae has shaped all subsequent theology since it was written in the late thirteenth century. This Companion features essays from both specialists in Aquinas' thought and from constructive contemporary theologians to demonstrate how to read the text effectively and how to relate it to past and current theological questions. The authors thoroughly examine individual topics addressed in the Summa, such as God, the Trinity, eternity, providence, virtue, grace, and the sacraments, making the text accessible to students of all levels. They further discuss the contextual, methodological, and structural issues surrounding the Summa, as well as its interaction with a variety of religious traditions. This volume will not only allow readers to develop a comprehensive multi-perspectival understanding of Aquinas' main mature theological work, but also promote dialogue about the vital role of the Summa in theology today.