Thomas Aquinas: A Very Short Introduction
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Thomas Aquinas, an Italian Catholic priest in the early thirteeth century, is considered to be one of the great Christian thinkers who had, and who still has, a profound influence on Western thought. He was a controversial figure who was exposed and engaged in conflict. This Very Short Introduction looks at Aquinas in a historical context, and explores the Church and culture into which Aquinas was born. It considers Aquinas as philosopher, and looks at the relationship between philosophy and religion in the thirteenth century. Fergus Kerr, in this engaging and informative introduction, will make The Summa Theologiae, Aquinas's greatest single work, accessible to new readers. It will also reflect on the importance of Thomas Aquinas in modern debates and asks why Aquinas matters now. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
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This book lived up to its promise - it was a brief read that introduced the reader to St. Thomas Aquinas, his thinking and his influence on history.
I have been part of a group reading our way through the Summa Theologiae for approximately twenty years. We meet twice a month to read aloud and discuss each question in the Summa. After all this time, we are at the tale end of Part II of Book II, about ready to take on the virtue of temperance.
This book has answered something that has puzzled me over the years. The true theological part of the Summa was over fairly quickly in Book I. Both parts have involved a fascinating and helpful discussion of how man forms judgments, and is affected by passions, and can develop the habits of virtues, or fall into their corresponding vices. This is so incredibly practical that I'm constantly amazed by how modern psychology isn't more Thomistic.
But I have to wonder, where is the theology in this?
This book gave me the answer, namely, according to the author, the Summa has a trinitarian structure. The first part is about God, the third part is about the man who was the incarnation of God, and the second part is about how those of us who are formed in the image of God can move toward God.
That is obviously the answer, but it took a helicopter survey to show me the map when I had been chopping my way through the trees every week.
The author's discussion of Aquinas' life and legacy is good. The discussion of the contents of the Summa is cursory, but useful. Anything longer would defeat the purpose of this book as a “very short introduction.”
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136 primary books137 released booksVery Short Introductions is a 138-book series with 137 primary works first released in 1915 with contributions by Mary Beard, John Henderson, and 167 others.
