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The Aesthetics of Thomas Aquinas

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Many of us have heard of the masterpiece written by St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century, the Summa Theologiae. However, this very little known work by the Semiotician, Umberto Eco, writter of the novel In the Name of the Rose, presents in an easy to understand, and with great depth, the aesthetics and views of St. Thomas with respect to the beautiful, art, and music. Eco, allows the reader to understand with more clarity, the thought of Scholastic philosophical and aesthetic thought with reference to Thomas, Augustine, Boetheius, Plato, Aristotle and many other great thinkers found throughout the course of history. Furthermore, Eco interprets the Summa Theologiae to understand such concepts as: visio, musical theory, artist, and many others.

In simple to use language, Eco renews the inspiration and awe that was seen long ago in interpretation of the aesthetic. Thus, philosophy does not have to be something complicated, rather a basis for everything else we do. Therefore, when we see a painting, listen to a piece of music, read a poem, etc, we interpret the beauty that derives from that particular work and Eco, in this book shows us how we can do it by understanding the thought of one of the foremost thinkers of all time, St. Thomas Aquinas.

This book is a must have for philsophers, musicians, artists, and anyone who may be interested in interpreting art work, poetry, music, and the Beautiful with greater profundity.