Customer Reviews

Thomas Aquinas in 90 Minutes (Philosophers in 90 Minutes Series)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Strathern says Thomas Aquinas was a towering figure of Medieval philosophy. I had to read another book (Aquinas for Armchair Theologians) to find out why.

Strathern is less interested in revealing Aquinas' philosophy than in reviling his theology. Strathern outlines Aquinas' life, discusses Aquinas' philosophical errors, and ridicules Aquinas' theology. Along the way, he succeeds in ignoring almost every important contribution Aquinas made to the history of Western thought. E.g., Aquinas' profound effect on the thought of Martin Luther King, Jr., helped shape the American Civil Rights movement. But why write about that when you can lampoon Aquinas for making philosophical arguments in support of Christianity?

In the last paragraph of his afterword Strathern celebrates Descartes' dictum "cogito ergo sum" because with it, modern philosophy had begun and the cobwebs of Aquinas' teachings were "swept away forever." A reading of Descartes' "Discourse on Method" reveals that Descartes reasoned from "cogito ergo sum" to the existence of God. Far from "sweeping away" Aquinas' cobwebs, Descartes seems to be very much entangled in them. The belief that reason could provide a pathway to God was not original to Descartes, Aquinas thought of it a few centuries before Descartes' time. There are still enough of Aquinas' cobwebs around for Martin Luther King, Jr., to have quoted Aquinas in his "Letter from a Birmingham Jail," and for George Bush, Sr., to have patterned his speech justifying Desert Storm after Aquinas' model for the just war.

Almost everything about modern thought is influenced by Thomas Aquinas, from Greenpeace to the World Court. You won't learn how reading this book. Read "Aquinas for Armchair Theologians" instead.

I read Mr. Strathern's book while waiting for a movie- it took about 50 min. (missed movie, had to catch later one).There are many great introductions to Aquinas' thought, this is clearly not one of them. The author doesn't understand Aquinas and the caricatures presented are wopping pieces of nonsense. For those who want a reliable introduction to Aquinas' thought, here are a few suggestions: _The Thought of Thomas Aquinas_ by Brian Davies (1992, Oxford U. Press)_Aquinas_ by Anthony Kenny (1980, Oxford U. Press)_St. Thomas Aquinas_ by Ralph McInerny (1976, U. of Notre Dame Press)_Aquinas_ by Frederick Copleston (1955, Penguin Books)

I agree with all the previous reviews. I had just finished G.K. Chesterton's book on Aquinas. Chesterton is a marvelous writer, but being a devout Catholic, he assumed the reader would know Aquinas' philosophy. I picked up this book to learn more. I didn't. Strathern constantly sacrificed his point for the sake of cruel witticisms. Other than a bit of history about Aquinas' life, I came away with the impression that Strathern: (a) considers Catholics beneath contempt: (b) believes the people of Medieval times have nothing to say to us (c) is so embittered toward Christianity that he can scarcely bear to credit it with any good. More than anything, this book irritated me because it never gives the basic points of Aquinas' philosophy. Even when granting Aquinas' intellect reluctant praise, Strathern doesn't elaborate on why Thomas was brilliant. I agree with the other reviewer who wondered if Strathern had even read Thomas Aquinas. If all the books in the series are this bad, I won't waste my time.

This book is very readable, occasionally witty, and author Paul Strathern sometimes makes interesting philosophical comments. But the humor often borders on ridicule (at one point he says that anyone who doubts the veracity of Thomas' theology, "courts instant excommunication and the prospect of an afterlife in a third-world-style region devoid of modern domestic conveniences", p.8). Also, the contemporary significance of medieval philosophy in general and that of Thomas in particular escapes Strathern. He makes the outrageous claim, for instance, that the SUMMA THEOLOGICA, "attracts virtually no interest today, except among Catholics, who have to study it because it contains the truth about philosophy" (p. 62)(this, incidently, is another example of Strathern's humor as borderline ridicule). The SUMMA today attracts considerable genuine attention, not only from Catholics, but from many non-Catholic philosophers as well. Strathern's book is peppered with other highly questionable claims about the value of Thomas' philosophy. Sometimes, however, Strathern mentions the positive significance of Thomas for the advancement of philosophy and theology, but over all, he does not seem to understand the depth of that significance. So, I do not recommend this book as an introduction to Saint Thomas Aquinas.

In Feb., on Maui, my wife found this book in our condo laundry room. and, I read it. I liked it so much, I have not only acquired it, but, most of the 90 Minute series. I keep reading and adding.

The title of this 2 CD set is Thomas Aquinas in 90 minutes, and that is exactly what this is: a very basic introduction. If you have a Doctorate in Midevil Philosophy, I doubt you will be impressed. However, if you know a little about Aquinas, and would like an overview of his life and work, this CD set fits the bill. I gave this 4 stars, in part, because this volume is the only game in town. The audiotape market is not exactly bursting with Thomas Aquinas introductions. It is lonely at the top. And the reality is, beggars cannot be choosers! Still this is a well read, solid introduction. The one negative aspect is it does not really focus much on the philosphy of Aquinas, rather the emphasis is on his biography and times.

Now, why should you get this volume? Because it is a serviceable quick introduction to Aquinas, which if you listen to it, will put you ahead of 99.9% of the people out there with regard to a knowledge of his life and work. Aquinas had a major role in Catholic history as well as in philosophy. He also is an interesting person. For one thing, he had a fascinating mystical experience near the end of his life, after which he lost all interest in philosophy. And then there is the story of his chasing the French coquette off with a faggot when she tried to seduce him as a young man. I would say this is a very profitable way to spend 90 minutes, we are lucky to have this volume available.

Assuming good faith, I'm not quite sure why this book was written. There's very little discussion about and explanation of Thomas' philosophy. Filling his book with put-downs from page one, dripping with sarcasm, the author comes across as a stellar example of late 20th century intellectual snobbery. If you're looking for a concise beginner's introduction to Aquinas' influential thought, this is not it. The only practical use I can think of for this book would be as fodder for a study of published modern anti-Catholic "intellectualism."

I am so glad I was able to obtain this book on loan because I can think of much better ways to spend my money. I was so hopeful when I started this reading that I would get a general idea of the philosophies of Aquinas. Obviously I did not expect to get to know him intimatly. What I got was a sarcastic and condescending review of a man who has greatly impacted the catholic church (the author claims that without Aquinas, the church may not have survived) and thus western civilization. I wish I had read the other reviews here first. The book presents itself as being biographical and unbiased but from page one you learn of the author's obvious distaste for Aquinas. I don't mind this sort of writing, only that I would like to know what I am in for. But worse, the books claims it will help you understand Aquinas but instead the author wanders off on barely related topics leaving me with no more information about Aquinas' philosophies than when I began.

St. Thomas Aquinas is one of the greatest thinkers in Church history. More than 25 Popes have lauded Aquinas as the Church's preeminent theologian. His most well-known work is his hefty "Summa Theologica", which includes arguments for the existence of God, his understanding of man's nature, and his writings on virtue and sin.

But while many are familiar with Aquinas the theologian, few people know Aquinas the man. Three of my favorite theologians have written great biographies of Aquinas--G.K. Chesteron, Fr. Robert Barron, and Fr. Aidan Nichols--but each is a more advanced study of Aquinas' life. "Thomas Aquinas In 90 Minutes", however, offers a shorter, more accessible look at this brilliant, holy man. The book begins with a quick overview of Thomas' childhood, then quickly moves into his thought and impact on scholasticism. Written with a light, humorous approach, the book really can be read in 90 minutes.

Read this book for a brisk, easy introduction to Aquinas' life.

... in order to stand and be counted but I must say that the other reviewers pretty much said it all. There is little analysis of the thought of Aquinas in this book. What's worse is that the book isn't a well reasoned critique on Aquinas' thought but rather a short burst of ranting and ravings, often resorting to cheap personal attacks.
I'm sure we're all just a little bit dumber after reading this book.