Aquinas: Moral, Political, and Legal Theory (Modern Social & Political Philosophies) [Paperback]

John Finnis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1998 | ISBN-10: 0198780850 | ISBN-13: 978-0198780854 | Edition: 1st Ed.

This launch volume in the Founders of Modern Political and Social Thought series presents a critical examination of Aquinas's thought, combining an accessible, historically-informed account of his work with an assessment of his central ideas and arguments. John Finnis presents a richly-documented critical review of Aquinas's thought on morality, politics, law, and method in social science. Unique in his coverage of both primary and secondary texts and his vigorous argumentation on many themes, the author focuses on the philosophy in Aquinas's texts, and demonstrates how this interconnects with the theological elements. Finnis shows how Aquinas, despite some medieval limitations, makes clear and profound contributions to present debates.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The text is extremely well documented and provides an extensive set of indices, including subject and citation, which allows the reader a thorough reference to the subjects treated. It also provides the reader a thorough treatment of Aquinas's views in regard to civil law..[it is] an outstanding achievement and the vanguard of a new series."--Scott Campbell Journal

About the Author

John Finnis is Professor of Law and Legal Philosophy at University College, Oxford, and Biolchini Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana. He has acted as a specialist advisor to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons, the Catholic Bishops' Committee on Bio-Ethical Issues, the International Theological Committee, and was vice-Chair of the Linacre Centre for Medical Ethics from 1987 to 1996. His publications include Natural Law and Natural Rights (OUP 1980), Fundamentals of Ethics (OUP and Georgetown UP, 1983), Nuclear Deterrence, Morality, and Realism (OUP 1987), and Moral Absolutes (Catholic University of America Press 1991).

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 1st Ed. edition (September 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198780850
• ISBN-13: 978-0198780854
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #975,167 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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19 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent !, May 4, 1999

By A Customer

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This review is from: Aquinas: Moral, Political, and Legal Theory (Modern Social & Political Philosophies) (Paperback)

Finnis has created a major contribution to Thomistic scholarship with this work. The critical discussion of Aquinas's justification of the death penalty is especially enlightening. This work is a necessity for all philosophers and theologians who are serious about learning the theory of this great philosopher, Aquinas.

21 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Aquinas, July 31, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Aquinas: Moral, Political, and Legal Theory (Modern Social & Political Philosophies) (Paperback)

John Finnis's latest book is not really about Aquinas. It is, rather, an attempt to supply a Thomistic pedigree for the 'New Natural Law Theory' developed by Finnis in his earlier books and articles. This is the upshot of recent reviews in THE THOMIST (April 2001 issue) and The American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly (Winter 2001 issue). If you are interested in the thought of John Finnis, this book may interest you. If you want to understand Aquinas, look elsewhere.