The Cambridge Companion to Aquinas

by Norman Kretzmann (Editor), Eleonore Stump (Editor)

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.

Genres: Philosophy, Theology, Reference, Religion, Nonfiction, History, Christianity

312 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1989

Reviews

[Jay D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many are critical of the Cambridge Companoin series, yet this volume contains essays by top Thomistic scholars. Most essays are very good and insightful, and on the whole, the book is worth reading for those who are deep into the minutiae of Thomism. The featured Thomists such as McInery, MacDonald, Stump and others, all back up my interpretations and understanding of Thomas as well.

[Sasha Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This did exactly what I needed, which was to help me check, consolidate and extend my understanding of Aquinas' metaphysics. It was very rewarding - I kept being struck by how modern and, indeed, at times how postmodern Aquinas seems once you translate him into everyday modern English. That's something you have to keep doing almost constantly in your head as you read the book, though; if you don't keep reminding yourself that words are not being used in their colloquial senses, you rapidly come unstuck. For most of the book, I was reading at about a sixth of my usual speed. I can't imagine, therefore, that the book achieves the aim stated on the back cover of "dispel[ling] the intimidation [...] readers often feel when faced with the work of a difficult and challenging thinker". I struggled at times, and I already know I love Aquinas. This is more a criticism of the blurb than of the book, which fills a perfectly valid academic niche - just not that particular one. If you're already reasonably familiar with the metaphysics of either Aristotle or Aquinas himself, I'd recommend this book. If not, you probably need something a bit more introductory.

[Mariana Menezes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Li 4 artigos do livro: contexto histórico, Metafísica, teoria do conhecimento e filosofia da mente em Tomás. A leitura me ajudou muito a entender mais profundamente alguns conceitos que já tinham sido estudados por alto em aulas. Brabo demais.

[Gille Liath · Rating 2 out of 5]

This reads like the testimony of hostile witnesses, as though the writers grudgingly accept that one of the greatest thinkers of history did, after all, come up with some good things. I can't imagine there are too many other books in this series in which the authors feel they have to apologise for the 'alien or even absurd world-view' of the subject.

The reality is that, although it is technically possible to separate Aquinas' philosophy from the Christian milieu - and although he has not had the credit he deserves for the revival of analytical philosophy during the Middle Ages - it is totally pointless to do so. Attempting to define a meaningless world by philosophy: that is the thing that he would, and indeed did, find absurd.