Aquinas' Summa Theologiae
Overview
This reader’s guide to the Summa Theologica describes the context Aquinas’ compendium of Catholic theology emerged in, and seeks to guide the reader to an understanding as close to Aquinas’ originally meaning as possible. Loughlin also chronicles the history of how the Summa Theologica has been received, and the influence it has had through the centuries.
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- Introduces the Summa Theologica and its historical and theological importance
- Provides an excellent introductory text to the study of Thomism or Scholasticism
- Explores the enduring relevance of the Summa in the twenty-first century
Top Highlights
“The effect of this decision on Thomas’s part was the idea for and the initial composition of the Summa Theologiae, a work that endeavors to present Christian morality as something grounded in the entirety of theology, and not as something that can safely ignore fundamental theology on the one hand, and Christology, sacramental theology, and eschatology on the other.” (Page 9)
“This gave rise to a literary form called the quaestio or ‘question,’ which consisted generally of a consideration of an issue through a presentation of the positions both pro and con, a considered solution offered by the teacher, followed by an addressing of the positions pro and con in light of the determination that had been offered. The purpose of this was to achieve a deeper, more profound understanding of the text before one, and not the modern practice of questioning the authorities as something fuelled by skepticism and doubt.” (Page 23)
“It would seem, then, that the most appropriate way to speak of the divine essence would be to deny of it anything that is clearly inappropriate. This apophatic way of describing the divine essence reflects the lack of access that human beings have to such an object, and respects the profundity of the Creator’s essence.” (Page 46)
“He was sent to Paris where, in 1248 at the age of about 24, he completed the education that he had started at Naples. It was during this time in Paris when Thomas met and began to study under Albert the Great, one of the great theologians of his day who was pivotal in explaining Aristotle to the people of his time.” (Page 2)
. . . a thorough guide through the hermeneutic conflict that surround the Summa, all of which is rigorously attested in the footnotes . . . a considerable achievement.
—The Expository Times
Stephen J. Loughlin is associate professor of philosophy at DeSales University, and coordinator of the Aquinas Translation Project.
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Richard C. Hammond, Jr.
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Akintoye AKINTUNDE
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Forrest Cole
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