Ethica Thomistica Revised [Paperback]

Ralph Ncinerny (Author), Ralph M. McInerny (Author), McInerny (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

A revised edition of McInerny's classic introduction to Thomistic ethics.

First published fifteen years ago, Ethica Thomistica is widely recognized as one of the finest introductions to St. Thomas's moral philosophy. Though the book has been out of print for several years, scholars and students still refer to it as the standard resource on Thomistic ethics. In this much-anticipated, revised edition, Ralph McInerny revisits the basics of Thomas's teachings and offers a brief, intelligible, and persuasive summary.

Praise for the original edition:

"Remarkable for its moderation and common sense. . . . [McInerny] rapidly sketches selected themes from Thomistic moral thinking: what distinguishes the moral activities of man, what is distinctive of moral goodness (in Aristotle and in Aquinas), an analysis of practical reason in relation to natural law, the bases for judging good and evil moral actions, the roles of intellect and will in voluntary activity, the work of virtues as components of moral character, the functions of prudence and conscience, and finally the relation of ethics to religious belief. . . . For the person who desires a quick and understandable introduction to this subject, this little book can be recommended as readable and reliable."-Vernon J. Bourke, Speculum

"An important contribution both to moral philosophy and to its teaching. . . . [McInerny] has put us all in his debt by writing it."-Alasdair MacIntyre, Teaching Philosophy

"A clear, thorough and readable introduction to the thought of one of the intellectual giants of the Catholic moral tradition."-National Catholic Register

Ralph McInerny is Michael P. Grace Professor of Medieval Studies and director of the Jacques Maritain Center at the University of Notre Dame, where he has taught since 1955. He is founder and publisher of Catholic Dossier magazine; cofounder of Crisis magazine; and author of several books published by CUA Press, including Aquinas on Human Action (1992), The Question of Christian Ethics (1993), and Aquinas and Analogy (1996).

Product Details

• Paperback: 136 pages
• Publisher: Catholic University of America Press; Rev Sub edition (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813208971
• ISBN-13: 978-0813208978
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #211,921 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Introduction, July 25, 2003

By 

Scott M. Sullivan (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ethica Thomistica Revised (Paperback)

McInerny offers a fine introduction to the ethics of Thomas Aquinas in this volume. While not a large book by any means, it is packed with information that is very valuable for one trying to understand the ethical principles of Aquinas. McInerny discusses natural law and the alleged "naturalistic fallacy", the difference between real and apparent goods, the notion of the Ultimate End as argued by Aristotle and Aquinas, the Thomistic structure of the human act (a series of will-acts of both the order of intention and the order of execution)the role of ignorance in human action, the Cardinal Virtues, and finally how conscience plays into all of the above (a conscience always binds but doesn't always excuse).

I have read this book over three times and find it very profitable. Having read this work first, I discovered that when I picked up Aquinas' Commentary on the Nicomachean Ethics, I was a "leg up" on the material and felt as if McInerny's work prepared me for it very well - as it summarizes the Nicomachean Ethics very nicely.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent intro, November 2, 2010

By 

Alfredo Watkins "Fredo" (San Bernardino, Ca, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Ethica Thomistica Revised (Paperback)

Contrary to what some have said, this is actually an excellent book, whether you want to learn thomistic ethics specifically, or Aristotelian theory in general. McInerny is very precise and clear, and gives many healthy examples and analogies to make his point. Before reading this book I had very little understanding of the main concepts of thomistic ethics, and I was confused by all these notions of "forms", "ends" and whatnot. McInerny made it easy to understand what thomists mean when they use these examples. Moreover, he applies these the ethical framework to real life cases and gives examples. Another thing about this book is that it does not get bogged down in exegesis of "what St. Thomas meant" or "what the right interpretation is." Overall, I recommend this book. It presents a plausible, comprehensive, and clear approach to Saint Thomas' moral philosophy.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Beginners Should Start Elsewhere, July 30, 2010

By 

Reader (Arlington, Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Ethica Thomistica Revised (Paperback)

I gave up on "Ethica Thomistica" 2/3 of the way through. Individual parts are excellent, but, overall, I didn't find the book to be helpful or beginner-friendly. The presentation is disorganized, terms are introduced without proper definitions, Thomas' ethical thought isn't related to his broader metaphysics, and close analysis of texts is surprisingly rare. McInerny also grinds an annoying Catholic ax, as when he complains that Catholic Supreme Court justices aren't "Catholic enough" or when he insists that the sole legitimate purpose of sex is reproduction. Not recommended.