A Shorter Summa: The Most Essential Philosophical Passages of St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica
Overview
St. Thomas Aquinas is universally recognized as one of the greatest philosophers who ever lived. His writings are both clear and profound; he is a master of metaphysics and technical terminology, yet full of both theoretical and practical wisdom. The Summa Theologica is timeless, but particularly important today because of his synthesis of faith and reason, revelation and philosophy, and the biblical and the classical Greco-Roman heritages. This little book is designed for beginners, either for classroom use or individually. It contains the most famous and influential passages of St. Thomas’ philosophy with copious aids to understanding them.
In the Verbum edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Verbum Catholic Study Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.
Save more when you purchase this book as part of the Peter Kreeft Bundle (27 vols.).
- Contains the most famous and influential passages of St. Thomas’ philosophy
- Useful for beginners, either for classroom use or individually
- Includes aids to help readers understand St. Thomas’ philosophy
- Methodology: Theology As a Science
- Proofs For the Existence of God
- The Nature of God
- Cosmology: Creation and Providence
- Anthropology: Body and Soul
- Epistemology and Psychology
- Ethics
Top Highlights
“For beginners I recommend Mortimer Adler’s amazingly clear Aristotle for Everybody, and for intermediate students W. D. Ross’ one-volume Aristotle.” (Page 19)
“The following quotation should be chiseled on the doorposts of every philosophy department in the world: ‘The study of philosophy is not the study of what men have opined, but of what is the truth.’” (Page 13)
“Each Article begins by formulating in its title a single question in such a way that only two answers are possible: yes or no.” (Page 20)
“Aquinas stands as a shining example of an alternative to both the fundamentalists and the liberals of his day and of any day.” (Page 15)
“Thus the overall scheme of the Summa, like that of the universe, is an exitus-redditus, an exit from and a return to God, Who is both Alpha and Omega. God is the ontological heart that pumps the blood of being through the arteries of creation into the body of the universe, which wears a human face, and receives it back through the veins of man’s life of love and will.” (Page 18)
Peter Kreeft is a philosopher, theologian, and apologist. His concise, lucid, wit-infused prose draws frequent comparisons to that of C. S. Lewis. He has written dozens of books on understanding philosophy, defending the Christian faith, and encouraging Catholics on difficult doctrine. He is currently professor of philosophy at Boston College.
Reviews
2 ratings
Dr. Gordon Arthur
1/9/2019
William A. Long
8/22/2018
