Aquinas (Arguments of the Philosophers) [Paperback]

Eleonore Stump (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 7, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0415378982 | ISBN-13: 978-0415378987 | Edition: New edition

Few philosophers or theologians exerted as much influence on the shape of medieval thought as Thomas Aquinas. He ranks amongst the most famous of the Western philosophers and was responsible for almost single-handedly bringing the philosophy of Aristotle into harmony with Christianity. He was also one of the first philosophers to argue that philosophy and theology could support each other. The shape of metaphysics, theology, and Aristotelian thought today still bears the imprint of Aquinas' work.

In this extensive and deeply researched study, Eleonore Stump examines Aquinas' major works, Summa Theologiae and Summa Contra Gentiles, and clearly assesses the vast range of Aquinas' thought. Philosophers, theologians, and students of the medieval period alike will find this unrivalled study an indispensable resource in researching and teaching Aquinas.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This book is an astounding achievement. It will not be superseded for decades. It will surely remain on the bibliography for as long as Thomas Aquinas is regarded as a major thinker; for as long as there is Western philosophy.' - Fergus Kerr, Ars Disputandi

‘This is by far the best book we have on Aquinas’s philosophy as a whole, and it will undoubtedly become a standard point of reference for anyone interested in his work’- Robert Pasnau, Mind

About the Author

Eleonore Stump is the Robert J. Henle, S.J. Professor of Philosophy at Saint Louis University. Her previous books include Boethius’s De topicis differentiis (1978; reprinted 1989); Boethius’s In Ciceronis Topica (1988); Dialectic and Its Place in the Development of Medieval Logic (1980); The Cambridge Companion to Aquinas (ed. with Norman Kretzmann) (1993); Aquinas’s Moral Theory: Essays in Honor of Norman Kretzmann (ed. with Scott MacDonald) (1999); and The Cambridge Companion to Augustine (ed. With Norman Kretzmann) (2001).

Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; New edition edition (October 7, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415378982
• ISBN-13: 978-0415378987
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #693,457 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Decent Introduction to Aquinas' thought, March 3, 2006

By 

Jason A. Pannone (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Aquinas (Arguments of the Philosophers) (Paperback)

I am working my way through this book in a reading group. It isn't bad. For the most part, Stump's exposition of St. Thomas' thought is lucid and insightful. She leads the reader through the dense thickets of St. Thomas' thought, and is able to answer many of the traditional criticisms with grace and insight.

However, there is a great deal of historical background and tradition that she omits, which might help shed light on certain obscure areas. For instance, in the chapter on divine simplicity, no mention is made of Pseudo-Dionysius, or the nearly 1000 years of apophatic theology that provide the foundation of St. Thomas' analysis of the simplicity of God. It seems odd to not mention this, to give some context to the discussion.

In other places, I am not sure from where she's getting her information -- for example, in the chapter on goodness, she makes reference to two questions in the Summa that she claims show that the precepts of fortitude have to do with fear of the Lord. However, when I looked up the questions, they made no such reference. Very odd, given the general lucidity and clarity of the rest of the work.

Again, it's a decent introduction to Aquinas' thought, although readers might want to consult some other guides to get a better sense of historical context when reading this book.