Aquinas: A Guide for the Perplexed

Guides for the Perplexed

by Peter S. Eardley

Thomas Aquinas is the most widely read and arguably most influential of the medieval philosophers. He is famous for his impressive and coherent synthesis of Greek Philosophy and Christian Theology and his magisterial Summa Theologiae is a hugely important, and enduring, text in the history of philosophy. Yet he is also a very difficult thinker and his ideas present a number of challenges to his readers. A Guide for the Perplexed is a clear and thorough account of Aquinas's thought, his major works and ideas, providing an ideal guide to the important and complex writings of this key thinker. The book introduces all the key concepts and themes in Aquinas's thought and examines the ways in which they have influenced philosophical and theological thought. Geared towards the specific requirements of students who need to reach a sound understanding of Aquinas's ideas, the book serves as a clear and concise introduction to his philosophy and natural theology. This is the ideal companion to the study of this most influential and challenging of thinkers.

Genres: Philosophy, Spirituality, Religion

166 pages, Paperback

First published December 2, 2010

Reviews

[Glenn Crouch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite a good short book looking at the Philosophical aspects of Thomas Aquinas - and whilst his Theological outlooks are also included (as you can't separate them from the philosophical), it is the former where the emphasis of this book lies. Though some elementary background in Philosophy is assumed, the Authors do introduce each topic (Metaphysics, Psychology, Epistemology, Ethics and Politics) well, and I appreciated that the historical understanding of the term is clearly explained.

Short books on big topics always do leave you wanting more. I would've appreciated a deeper coverage on Just War Theory, and perhaps a little less on some of the other sections. And I think a proper conclusion would've been good.

However there is a good Bibliography - which I often criticise smaller books for - but not in this instance.

So not a bad introduction to the Philosophy of Aquinas - and thus not a bad into to the Philosophy of the European Middle Ages.