St Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica (translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province) (5 Volume Set)

Book Description

Thomas Aquinas' best-known work is the Summa Theologica. As the title indicates, the Summa is a "summing up" of all that can be known about Christian theology.

Customer Reviews:

A great resource for theological research.......2007-09-28

I purchased this Five-volume set after taking a couple of philosophy courses, which I feel like I should recommend to anyone starting to dive into this hefty text. If you don't feel like taking a class, perhaps some of the secondary texts written by philosophers about Aquinas will help in reading this fantastic set of info.
Aquinas forms his arguments in a way that is almost flawless. I am not Catholic, yet I find this to be an explanation of Catholic doctrine that makes me almost want to convert. For anyone from the atheist to the devout catholic, this text is a window into one of the greateast natural and revealed theologians to ever document his thoughts. Footnotes are aplenty to send you on your way to other documents, especially Augistine, so be prepared for an obsession.

Mike Yandell

Summa is supreme.......2007-05-13

Probably the best sys theo work ever. Oh, that more fellow Protestants would pour over this text!

Good Theology, Good Philosophy.......2007-01-12

These volumes have withstood the test of time in the worlds of religion and philosophy. Reading the words of one of the greatest minds in history is both entertaining and educational. This set is a must have for anyone who likes to study philosophy. For a beginner, it may be beneficial to get one of the many Aquinas readers or help texts, but it doesn't take very long to catch on and soon you will find yourself just reading at your own pace, making your own ideas about what Aquinas is all about.

Great Work, Good Translation.......2006-11-08

The Summa Theologica of Saint Thomas is without doubt one of the greatest works in the history of the Christian faith. The logical order and progression is simply amazing and the scope of the work monumental.

This translation is generally very close to the sense of the Latin original, although in a few cases I have noticed some strange differences. For example, in Pt. 1 Q.1 A. 4. The Dominican Fathers translate the Latin (which reads "Magis tamen est speculativa quam practica") as ". . . speculative rather than practical" although the Latin reads ". . . speculative MORE than practical." This is a substantial change in the meaning which ends up creating confusion in the next article when Thomas says that theology is ". . . partly speculative and partly practical". There are other variations from the Latin throughout the rest of the work, some more and less important.

I urge those who are interested in a serious study of Saint Thomas to use this text as an aid to a deeper study with the Latin. If this is not possible for you, this translation will nevertheless give you a good introduction and tool for an introductory and intermediate understanding of Saint Thomas's thought.

St. Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica (5 volume set) .......2006-11-05

This set of books is very good for religious studies majors or anyone pursuing a higher education in theological studies. This series addresses in detail, the myriad questions pertaining to Christian theological doctrines through philosophical reasoning.

Aquinas's Shorter Summa: Saint Thomas's Own Concise Version of His Summa Theologica

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St. Thomas - an excellent teacher!
The Lord Thy God is a Jealous God
STA's short summa
Understanding Aquinas clarifies other historical issues
Massive Summary of Christian Truths

Aquinas's Shorter Summa: Saint Thomas's Own Concise Version of His Summa Theologica
Aquinas, Saint Thomas
Manufacturer: Sophia Institute Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1928832431

Book Description

Two years before he died, St. Thomas Aquinas - probably the greatest teacher the Church has ever known - was asked by his assistant, Brother Reginald, to write a simple summary of the Faith of the Catholic Church for those who lacked the time or the stamina to tackle his massive Summa Theologica.

In response, the great saint quickly set down - in language that non-scholars can understand - his peerless insights into the major topics of theology: the Trinity, Divine Providence, the Incarnation of Christ, the Last Judgment, and much more.

Here, then, is not only St. Thomas's concise statement of the key elements of his thought, but a handy reference source for the essential truths of the Catholic Faith.

Customer Reviews:

St. Thomas - an excellent teacher!.......2007-10-22

As a late-coming student to theology and philosophy, I find St. Thomas's Concise Summa a wonderful teaching tool and resource for further understanding of the basic beliefs of Christianity. It is clear and easy to understand, and the only addtional resource I have found helpful is a dictionary of philosophical terms as I am weak in that area. Well worth your time!

The Lord Thy God is a Jealous God.......2007-06-19

Not to say a mean and vindictive old coward. The Blessed Saint Thomas Aquinas said, "that the saints may enjoy their beatitude and the grace of God more abundantly they are permitted to see the punishment of the damned in hell." Is that the famous Christian charity? Or is it a kind of sadism? Aquinas also said that all heretics deserve to die, which equates to advocating the murder of billions of people. Is that charity or loving-kindness? No wonder religion is itself dying out.

STA's short summa.......2007-03-23

This book is a wonderful way for non intellectuals to read St. Thomas Aquinas! It has all of his inspirational and theological genius in concise and easy to read sections. A must read for all Catholics and highly recommended to non-Catholics interested in learning about the foundations of Christianity.

Understanding Aquinas clarifies other historical issues.......2005-08-03

I need not restate the lenghty and obvious praises of previous reviewers, they did an excellent job of summing up the work on the intellectual level.

I did however find in this work answers to many of the questions so many people ask regarding judicial, political and historical issues these days and yes even a few to fill the gaps left in a lifetime of research into the basic philosophies of other great and important historical figures.

I believe that if one really wants to understand our own country and it's founding fathers and mothers and their philosophies and where their belief systems came from a study of this work would be an essential addition to many others that they used to formulate their ideals and ideologies.

Many passages from Aquinas will stay with me for the rest of my days but the two I have chosen below will be kept readily avqailable for future consideration and contemplation.

"God alone can create. Consequently the rational soul is produced by God alone."

And, "A man's happiness or beautitude consist in the vision whereby he sees God in his essence."

One could spend a lifetime just pondering and trying to live up to just these two and it would not be in vain.

This is a book journey that every American should take. It is not the most easily understandable work, unless you take the time to really read it, not just skim it's pages.

One must begin with a committment and determination to stay engaged at all times or a great deal of it's wisdom will pass before the minds eye unnoticed.

An excellent work.

Massive Summary of Christian Truths.......2004-11-17

I am a begginer, 22 years old, in the field of christianity. I've been a believer for 4 years now, but up until recently I am developing interest in a more profound study of Christian Faith.

This book looks quite tempting to read on... but, from my perspective, its surely not an easy read; its dense and surely profound. To be sincere, its too philosophycal for my taste and lacks more day-to-day ilustrations that could make the reading more pleasant and easy to remember.

I don't under estimate the scope and richness of St.Thomas, but for begginers I recomend trying C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity.

God Bless!

The Cambridge Companion to Aquinas (Cambridge Companions to Philosophy)

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It will help you out
An excellent work
Not for "nonspecialists"
Thorough, Precise, and Informative

The Cambridge Companion to Aquinas (Cambridge Companions to Philosophy)

Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0521437695

Book Description

Among the great philosophers of the Middle Ages Aquinas is unique in pursuing two apparently disparate projects. On the one hand he developed a philosophical understanding of Christian doctrine in a fully integrated system encompassing all natural and supernatural reality. On the other hand, he was convinced that Aristotle's philosophy afforded the best available philosophical component of such a system. In a relatively brief career Aquinas developed these projects in great detail and with an astonishing degree of success. In this volume ten leading scholars introduce all the important aspects of Aquinas' thought, ranging from its historical background and dependence on Greek, Islamic, and Jewish philosophy and theology, through the metaphysics, epistemology and ethics, to the philosophical approach to Biblical commentary. New readers and nonspecialists will find this the most convenient, accessible guide to Aquinas currently in print. Advanced students and specialists will find a conspectus of recent developments in the interpretation of Aquinas.

Customer Reviews:

It will help you out.......2007-05-07

This is a nice piece. It gathers fine articles written by well-known scholars of Thomas Aquinas. The themes are very well chosen inasmuch as they go thru all the most important aspects of the philosophy of this great thinker. It gives you, at the same time, a just idea of the relation of Thomas' thought with that of Aristotle an also its independence, its uniqueness. It makes you want to dive into Thomas Aquinas' system. Don't hesitate: just buy it.

An excellent work.......2003-12-15

St. Thomas Aquinas was not a man short of words. The depth of his thinking, and the sheer volume of his texts, makes his thinking both profound and difficult. But most of all, the aspiring student of Thomas' work may be afraid to face the daunting task of diving into the vast ocean of Thomas' words.

For them, this volume is exactly what they need.

By gathering up some of the top Aquinas scholars in the field, this volume presents the major topics of Aquinas' work in a lucid, considered, and (most importantly) easily understood way. While certainly not comprehensive (that is not its aim, and after all, the book would be another 500 pages at least), any potential Thomist scholar would be greatly served by this volume. Not only do the various authors give the reader a general overview of Thomas' thought and development, they also introduce some of the disputes going on within academic Thomistic studies. As such, this volume is a good starting point for those interested in Aquinas, be it an academic interest or an desire to learn about the life and thought of a Doctor of the Church.

Admittedly, one should not try and delve into this book with no previous background into Thomas' thought. It does presume some level of familiarity with the terminology Aquinas gained from Aristotle, as well as from the Church Fathers and others. Given this, a general background in philosophy and/or patristic/scholastic theology should suffice for most of the work.

If you want to understand Aquinas, but are just starting out, you should have this book on your shelf. Highly Recommended.

Not for "nonspecialists".......2000-07-14

The cover states the book is for "students and nonspecialist", which I found to be not true. The best example was in the chapter Metaphysics, if you do not already understand the concepts and especially Aquinas` arguements before reading the book you will definitly not understand them after reading the book. I felt the book confuses much more than enlightens.

Thorough, Precise, and Informative.......2000-03-05

As always, Norman Kretzmann and Eleonore Stump deliver another masterful work together. Each of these writers are experts in their philosophical field of Medieval Metaphysics and philosophy. For anyone interested in gaining a better grasp of one of the greatest philosophers in the history of philosophy, this volume will certainly help. Kretzmann and Stump have edited this volume and included some of the preeminent Thomistic philosophers of the last 40 years. Chapters cover Aquinas' thoughts on ethics, metaphysics, Aristotle and Aquinas, Aquinas' theory of knowledge, law and politics and theological issues. Thus, the essentials of Aquinas are here in one volume. Moreover,this is an excellent work for those who would like to dig deeper and gain a more throrough understanding of Aquinas, or for those who would like to simply be "peeping Thomists" and get a small glimpse of what Aquinas espoused.

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A Thinking Man's View of a Thinking Man
The ox who's bellowing filled the world
The Dumb Ox
Chesterton at his best
"A Powerful Book"--says a non-Catholic

Saint Thomas Aquinas: The Dumb Ox
G.K. Chesterton
Manufacturer: Image
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Amazon.com

It is known that when the great Catholic writer G.K. Chesterton began his book on Saint Thomas Aquinas (who is, quite possibly, the most influential of all Christian theologians), "his research for the project consisted of a very casual perusal of a few books on his subject." To say that Chesterton was no authority is an understatement. To say further that he has written a masterpiece of elucidation may also be an understatement. Etienne Gilson, the chief scholar of Aquinas in the 20th century, said flatly "I consider it as being without possible comparison the best book ever written on St. Thomas. Nothing short of genius can account for such an achievement.... Chesterton was one of the deepest thinkers who ever existed; he was deep because he was right; and he could not help being right; but he could not either help being modest and charitable, so he left it to those who could understand him to know that he was right, and deep."

So how has he accomplished this feat? By simplifying, as his editor says, without oversimplifying. He turns his own lack of intimate knowledge to his advantage by concentrating on the core elements of Aquinas' thinking: his affirmation of the goodness of creation; his defense of common sense; and "the primacy of the doctrine of being." In this way he grasps--and helps us grasp--the importance of Aquinas for us today. As Raymond Dennehy has written, it's as if Chesterton is saying to us "the truths [Aquinas] was getting at--the basic principles of reality and reason--are in themselves really quite simple. Your basic intuitions were right all along." --Doug Thorpe

Book Description

A trade paperback edition of the classic portrait of Thomas Aquinas, one of the greatest of Christian philosophers, by one of the greatest of modern religious writers.

Customer Reviews:

A Thinking Man's View of a Thinking Man.......2007-09-06

As is evident from other reviews, Chesterton is not everyone's cup of tea. He lived in a day when erudition was registered in extended prose that often lent itself to convolution. To a thinking man, nuance is everything and Chesterton is so intent upon the development of nuance that he may seem opaque to modern readers who do not have the background that he assumes in the reader.

Chesterton is very clear in his introduction. He assumes the reader is acquainted with the major players in his book. He expects us to have a passing familiarity with St. Francis of Assisi so that when Chesterton lumps Aquinas together with him that it is a somewhat surprising strategy. Chesterton assumes that the reader is somewhat aware that the mendicant orders were not revolutionary in that they were introducing new ideas but that their intent was to confront decadence with old ones. This is where Chesterton begins and then he adds his own subtlety to the confusion.

For all that, if you are willing to rise to Chesterton's challenge you will not fail to be edified. Thinking is and should be, often its own reward. A book should not just entertain us but advance us along the pathways of elevated humanity. Chesterton's optimism (of another age) was that such a thing was possible and in that he and Aquinas were of one accord. He may be a bit too easy on the "Dumb Ox" and too ready to paint him more favorably than he warranted in every particular, but Chesterton makes him real and what is more important, leads us to understand how this Medieval mind was really important.

I think that was Chesterton's intent and he does a pretty fair job of accomplishing it. If you find yourself getting confused by the prose let it prod you into doing some background reading before you move on. When you do, you will find the prose is not so confusing as it might first appear.

It's a good book.

The ox who's bellowing filled the world.......2007-09-05

A Chesterton biography seems to always leave one with the feeling that they are not sure if they learned more about the subject of the biography or about the author. Chesterton so readily relates to his subject that the thinking of both seems intertwined into one. Is it Thomas Aquinas or is it the master of paradox himself who is making us think as we read this biography? Chesterton admits that his work is merely a sketch of Saint Thomas and primarily as a sketch of his philosophy. And, with that, we are treated to a solid introduction to that philosophy in the context of Thomas' life. It is, therefore, not a raw description of dates and events in the life of a Dominican - it is instead a bold introduction to philosophy that impacts the church and the world even today.

Thomas Aquinas was more than the simple friar he had hoped to be, he was indeed a father of western civilization. It is impossible to understand Thomas without such an introduction to Thomism. G. K. Chesterton rightly made that observation and gave us perhaps the best biography (sketch or otherwise) to date on the "dumb ox" who's bellowing indeed filled the world and changed it forever.

The Dumb Ox.......2007-09-01

G. K. Chesterton in one of the most redundant biographers that I've ever come across. The outline of the book and its overall message is quite sketchy and not at all organized. Mr. Chesterton just throws words at the reader in a very monotone and uninspired kind of way although his passion for the Saint, judging by the book itself, seems deep; almost as if he wished he could have met the Saint. Most of the book is just praising of Thomas Aquinas rather than information and facts about the man's life. I read the bio in it's entirety and learned more from a simple article posted on the wikipedia. In other words, G. K. Chesterton's biography on Saint Thomas Aquinas was a valiant attept at trying to tell, rather that show, the world what an important figure the Saint really was. Again, in other words, the book was a waste of time.

Chesterton at his best.......2007-06-29

I try to read any and everything Chesterton wrote. As a convert to Catholocism in the first half of the last century, he gave an interesting perspective of historical figures. He had the unique ability to present historical information with a more open mind than many of either his modernist or culturally protestant contemporaries. At a time when the mainstream historical perspective was broadening among intellectual circles, and the "actual" contributions of the Catholic Church as well as major Catholic figures was beginning to be acknowledged by historians, Chesterton was writing at a level that the "the common man" could understand. You don't have to be an ivy league intellectual to grasp his writings.

"A Powerful Book"--says a non-Catholic.......2007-05-24

I have no hesitation is saying that the "Dumb Ox" is one of the most powerful books I ever read. Chesterton's reasoning is relentless--dragging us back into the Middle Ages whether we want to go there or not!

Some parts are very humorous. Speaking of Luther, Chesterton says, "He destroyed Reason and substituted suggestion."

Chesterton's book is an essential read for educated people. When he called the Inquisition "a dubious experiment," however, I just couldn't go there (the Inquisition was a nightmare).

The non-Catholic who reads this book can expect to be put on the rack until he concedes something.

The Collected Works of G.K. Chesterton, Volume 2 : The Everlasting Man, St. Francis of Assisi, St Thomas Aquinas

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First Rate Apologetics
powerful and passionate apologetics
Chesterton's most important works
Three brilliant books

The Collected Works of G.K. Chesterton, Volume 2 : The Everlasting Man, St. Francis of Assisi, St Thomas Aquinas
G. K. Chesterton
Manufacturer: Ignatius Press
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0898701171

Customer Reviews:

First Rate Apologetics.......2007-05-25

Chesterton is one of those rare intellects who says things which actually change your perception of the world and alters the way you think. The Everlasting Man is a great book in so many ways. First, as in all books in this volume, TEM is great apologetics. Chesterton challenges arguments in favor of evolution and atheism. He is a tremendously gifted arguer. He has the ability to control an argument, direct where it's going, and reserve his judgment and wisdom until the very last sentence in such a way whereas the reader is more or less at his mercy. Many times, Chesterton was so convincing playing the devil's advocate (when he was giving the opponents arguments), I found myself acknowledging how legitimate some of the evolution's or atheist's points were...until Chesterton demolished all the psuedo-argument he had presented as their opinions as misguided argument or unsound thinking.

The book on Thomas Acquinas is invaluable as well. While only the surface of some of Acquinas' arguments are covered, the ones which are covered are the most powerful and relevant. Also, this serves as a simple, yet very thorough, biography of Acquinas' life.

Chesterton is a deep thinker, but he is also very practical and common sensical. No one can ever accuse him of bringing up irrelevant points or creating unclear argument. He says everything he means to say, nothing more or less.

If you are interested in apologetics and in reading a book which has influenced C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, and not to mention countless other thinkers and writers, you should buy this book. And it's a great deal too.

powerful and passionate apologetics.......2003-01-14

If you're a Catholic Christian and want to appreciate your faith more, these books will serve you well. If you're not Catholic or Christian and wish to encounter the most persuasive apologetics, this is an excellent place to start.

Chesterton is a wonderful writer. A poet by nature, Chesterton focuses on the material and concrete in ways that seems both paradoxical and wondrous. In "Saint Francis of Assisi," Chesterton takes the most popular saint, and presents all those details that really make us modern secularists most uncomfortable with him. In another book here, he links St. Thomas Aquinas to Francis, showing that, despite their vast differences in temperament, they both strove to save and present the goodness of creation and nature and to rebuke (in word or action) those who would hold the bodily in disdain.

In a sense, the biographies here are more than biographies. They're filled with diversions, and those diversions all point in the direction of the remaining book, "The Everlasting Man," which is presented between the other two. The central point here is that the Incarnation is the central event of human history; it allows us to joyously celebrate the good of creation and nature, as God has blessed matter with His very being.

Also, Chesterton is a real pleasure to read, as this passage shows: "One of my first journalistic adventures, or misadventures, concerned a comment on Grant Allen, who had written a book about the Evolution of the Idea of God. I happened to remark that it would be much more interesting if God wrote a book about the evolution of the idea of Grant Allen."

His wit shines in the conclusion of this anecdote. To his bemusement, his editor castigates *him* for being blasphemous. "In that hour I learned many things, including the fact that there is something purely acoustic in much of that agnostic sort of reverence. The editor had not seen the point, because in the title of the book the long word came at the beginning and the short word at the end; whereas in my comments the short word came at the beginning and gave him a sort of shock. I have noticed that if you put a word like God into the same sentence with a word like dog, these abrupt and angular words affect people like pistol-shots. Whether you say that God made the dog or the dog made God does not seem to matter; that is only one of the sterile disputations of the too subtle theologians. But so long as you begin with a long word like evolution the rest will roll harmlessly past; very probably the editor had not read the whole of the title, for it is rather a long title and he was rather a busy man."

Chesterton's most important works.......2002-04-01

This volume contains the most important works of G. K. Chesterton, his study of St. Francis, his study of St. Thomas Aquinas, and _The Everlasting Man_.

I have chosen the word "study" rather than biography deliberately. Readers looking to find a strict chronological account of St. Francis or St. Thomas according to the modern or postmodern canons of historiography should look elsewhere. What Chesterton does is get you at the heart of these two saints. He tells you what they were all about. He is somehow able to convey to his readers the very air that these saints breathed.

And then there is _The Everlasting Man_. While it is hard to characterize, this is Chesterton's best work. Period. Written as an answer to H. G. Wells's _Outline of History_, Chesterton gets at what is most important in human history: the fact that God became Man in Jesus Christ. It really is an incredible book.

Chesterton had an amazing knack to cut to the heart of the matter. If you want to see what St. Francis or St. Thomas were all about, or to appreciate more the Lord who inspired these saints, I would highly recommend this book.

Three brilliant books.......2001-10-19

Ignatius Press has done the world a great favor by releasing their "Collected Works of Chesterton" series. If you can only afford three volumes, get # 1, 2, and 6. If you can only afford one volume, it should be # 2.

Chesterton's book on St Francis is wonderful. Unlike most modern books, it places Francis squarely in Christianity. (Many contemporary books on Francis portray him as a 13th-century hippie, which would have astounded the devout friar!)

The book on Thomas Aquinas is simply the best biography of him ever, and many noted Thomists have agreed with this sentiment.

But "The Everlasting Man" is the true pinnacle of Chesterton's amazing output. In one book he puts "comparative religion" into a new and brilliant perspective. C.S. Lewis listed "Everlasting Man" as one of the reasons he became a Christian, and it really will floor you.

Customer Reviews:

incomplete delivery.......2007-04-13

Unfortunately I have not received this purchase. I have twice received incomplete deliveries (one volume out of the eight I paid for). Could you please confirm that the full set of eight volumes has been dispatched? Thank you.

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Awesome!
Not what I expected...
No Better Place to Start
Embracing the title of "Beginner"
Aquinas For Dummies

A Summa of the Summa
Thomas
Manufacturer: Ignatius Press
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ASIN: 089870300X

Book Description

Saint Thomas Aquinas is universally recognized as one of the greatest philosophers who ever lived. His writings combine the two fundamental ideals of philosophical writing: clarity and profundity. He is a master of metaphysics and technical terminology, yet so full of both theoretical and practical wisdom. He is the master of common sense. His major work, 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 unique book combines selected essential philosophical passages from Thomas' Summa with footnotes and explanations by Kreeft, a popular Thomist teacher and writer. Kreeft selected those passages from Thomas that are intrinsically important, non-technical enough to be intelligible to modern readers, and most likely to be used in a class or by independent readers who want to study the Summa on their own. Kreeft's detailed footnotes explain difficult or technical passages and call attention to points of particular significance for the modern reader. This book is the most intelligent, clear, and useful access to Saint Thomas in print. Includes a glossary and an index.

Customer Reviews:

Awesome!.......2007-02-17

This book is exactly what I was looking for. I'm a college freshman and one of my classes is going through St. Thomas' Summa and this book is great at explaining important details.

Not what I expected..........2007-01-04

Sitting in a coffee shop reading a commentary on the Summa, I was approached by a St. Thomas University professor whose specialty was St. Thomas; she asked me why of all things was I reading a book on St. Thomas. I told I had enjoyed St. Augustine's City of God and how a friend with a middle name of Thomas, who's father's middle name was Thomas, and who's grandfather's middle name was Thomas told me that I should read St. Thomas if I liked Augustine so much. The professor agreed and said that St. Thomas quoted Augustine much. So, armed with information that A Summa of the Summa was the definitive collection of St Thomas' work, I put down the commentary and immediately ordered a copy from Amazon. I was surprised though to find little similarity between the authors. Augustine is a theologian, while Thomas is a philosopher/logician. Though for well-rounded thinkers, the paths of these sets of disciplines should regularly cross, they are as yet distinctly different fields of study. As an engineer with a reasonably firm grasp of logic, my preference is to pursue more enjoyable reading, which I found to be Augustine's City of God and to a lesser degree his Confessions. The Summa of the Summa is page after page of unadulterated, dry logic. Ouch!

No Better Place to Start.......2004-07-20

On the one hand, the text of the Summa can be hard for beginners, even smart ones. On the other hand, textbooks where people tell you what other people thought suck. So Kreeft gives you the main dish, the text of the Summa itself (trimmed of some extraneous material not relevant to beginners (stop complaining specialists and fanatics!)), but with his lucid notes at the bottom of the page along with helpful illustrations. The book also sports a handy glossary. So go ahead, don't be afraid, read Aquinas, but don't be afraid to buy this book and have Kreeft along as a guide.

Embracing the title of "Beginner".......2004-03-19

Most books on Thomas Acquinas can be summarized: "He was a great man and I understand him and you never will." Kreeft diverges from academic interpretation, often designed to show off the brilliancy of the academic interpreter, by providing the reader with Acquinas' own words. He carefully provides footnotes designed to clarify language (he makes use of a literal interpretation into English) and issues. It is an effective approach, but not just for "Beginners." Many people familiar with Thomist thought will find clarification in Kreeft's brief notes and even discover, as I did, understandings they thought they had were, to one degree or another, inaccurate. As I went through this book I found that the title of "Beginner" is in many ways a good thing, especially when climbing the heights of Thomas Acquinas and Krefft is an exceptionally good guide for that climb.
Portions of the Summa have been omitted, including Objections unique to Acquinas' time and irrelevant to the modern reader and Part III of the Summa. Frankly, while recognizing the religious focus of Part III might not be immediately useful to all readers, I would have liked to seen at least some of it with Kreeft's footnotes, perhaps as a second volume.

Aquinas For Dummies.......2003-07-03

This book is good if you are new to studying Aquinas, but considering in the inreoduction Kreft suggest not skipping the objections and reading the "on the contrary" and the "I answer that" first, he certainly edits many of the articles this way. It is my opinion that Kreeft cut out too much text.

The Hidden Enemies of the Priesthood: The Contributions of St. Thomas Aquinas

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The Hidden Enemies of the Priesthood: The Contributions of St. Thomas Aquinas
Basil Cole
Manufacturer: St Pauls Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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A Growling Place
Thomas Aquinas Maguire
Manufacturer: Simply Read Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

One girl’s amazing adventure begins in her bedroom, on the night the wind blows her bear away. In vivid dreamscapes, little Aril follows after her bear with the help of a sparrow, though the air and over land and water, until she finds herself in "a growling place," in the company of bears! Thomas Aquinas Maguire’s streaming, broad-frame illustrations capture movement and mood in this captivating picture book — perfect for young readers just before bedtime.

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High quality writing on these subjects
Interesting but hard read

On Law, Morality, and Politics
Thomas Aquinas , Richard J. Regan , and William P. Baumgarth
Manufacturer: Hackett Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0872206637

Book Description

The second edition of Aquinas, On Law, Morality, and Politics retains the selection of texts presented in the first edition but offers them in new translations by Richard J. Regan—including that of his Aquinas, Treatise on Law (Hackett, 2000). A revised Introduction and glossary, an updated select bibliography, and the inclusion of summarizing headnotes for each of the units—Conscience, Law, Justice, Property, War and Killing, Obedience and Rebellion, and Practical Wisdom and Statecraft—further enhance its usefulness.

Customer Reviews:

High quality writing on these subjects.......2002-06-30

To my knowledge only a threesome authors-philosophers (Sartre, Nietzsche and Macchiavelli) would have been able as well to tell "useful" words on this combination of topics Aquinas chose.

The author - few are more original than Thomas - looks back on, examines some of the most basic, important questions that interest humanity (human nature and ethics, politics and law..) and explores them in the light of Christian faith, as well as ancient philosophy. Of the "ancients" he looks in particular close to Aristotle, whom's version the Bible was of till then. So one could say that he was sort of a predecessor for the great humanists...
Aquinas tries to restore the autonomy of nature and reason, in full harmony with (Christian) faith. The result of his work is genial, both what concerns the scholastic ànd "thomistic" style as well as for the special way of exploring and investigation through which he succeeds to "restore in faith".

Everyone who wants to read Aquinas should know that the author writes in a very specific, difficult way. It looks from time to time he opposes to himself, but after studying his readings one can only conclude that this is REAL top-of-the-shelf literature (for those esp. who like theology, philosophy, politics,...).

Interesting but hard read.......2001-05-21

The excerpts of Thomas Aquinas' "Summa Theologica" are well-presented in this book. Aquinas blends together his Christian faith and ancient philosophy, especially Aristotle, to examine questions about law, human nature, faith, politics, and ethics. I read this for a class on political philosophy and found it particularly interesting, a bridge between the ancients (Aristotle, Plato, Sophocles) and the more modern philosophers (Machiavellie, Locke, Hobbes).

It is also a hard read. The structure of each section is rigid: Aquinas poses a question, gives three objections to his answer, quotes other sources to support his answer (be it Greek philosophers, early Christians like Augustine, or the Bible) and then explains his answer and refutes the objections. To read it straight through is tedious, but to read several sections and consider Aquinas' whole thoughts on subjects can be very interesting, especially in the study of philosophy or theology.

For a student of theology or philosophy, I think Aquinas is important to read and understand, even if from another version of his writings. This book does a good job in presenting Aquinas. Aquinas and his beliefs are more interesting than the reading itself, but it's worth a look if you are interested in studying faith and theology or philosophy. As a light read, though, this is not the book.

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