On Evil [Hardcover]

Thomas Aquinas (Author), Brian Davies O.P. (Editor), Richard Regan S.J. (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 20, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0195158539 | ISBN-13: 978-0195158533

The De Malo represents some of Aquinas' most mature thinking on goodness, badness, and human agency. In it he examines the full range of questions associated with evil: its origin, its nature, its relation to good, and its compatability with the existence of an omnipotent, benevolent God. This edition offers Richard Regan's new, clear readable English translation, based on the Leonine Commission's authoritative edition of the Latin text. Brian Davies has provided an extensive introduction and notes. (Please note: this edition does not include the Latin text).

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Regan's translation is as felicitous and faithful as can be. [Davies' and Regan's] work together is splendid. Not only do they offer us an important translation upon which researchers can readily rely, but by editing and presenting it as they do, they propose that we turn to these disputed questions in order to understand and convey more accurately the maturity of Thomas' thought in philosophy and theology, in ethics and morality. "Invaluable" will be the word assciated with this particular edition."-- Theological Studies --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Richard Regan, Fordham University. Brian Davies, Regent of Studies, Blackfriars College, University of Oxford.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 560 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (March 20, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195158539
• ISBN-13: 978-0195158533
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,806,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Summon Your Demons, November 28, 2009

By 

OPVEA "Novalis" (Germany) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On Evil (Paperback)

It is a sad thing indeed, that the great Thomas Aquinas is the court theologian of the Roman Church. Those with an atheist bent, and who have never read a single line of Thomas's writings, point to his Summa Theologica, and brush him aside as a dullard and an adulterator of Aristotelianism. The truth is that Thomas was an excellent philosopher in his own right. Summa Theologica is not the best that he wrote. Dominique Chenu rightly pointed out that the Disputed Questions, and not the Summa, are to be considered the greatest among the writings of Thomas. And among the Disputed Questions, the one on hand, De Malo (On Evil), stands out as perhaps the very best. In this work, Thomas Aquinas offers us the most detailed anatomy of evil ever put down on paper. The only shortcoming of this work is that it is geared towards evil as an individual act, be it demonic or human. Thomas has nothing to say regarding the reality of social evil. But the latter perspective cannot be expected from a philosopher of the Middle Ages. Even so, those of our contemporaries who have the tenacity to study this brilliant treatise are likely to reap ample reward.

1 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars interesting, August 30, 2009

By 

Mitchell C. Miranda - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On Evil (Paperback)

I think this book is actually quite intresting albeit somewhat lengthly. Its a great deal if you are interested in christian theology!