Basic Writings of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Volume One

by Thomas Aquinas, Anton C. Pegis

Volume 1 includes the whole of the First Part of the Summa Theologica. Pegis's revision and correction of the English Dominican Translation renders Aquinas' technical terminology consistently as it conveys the directness and simplicity of Aquinas' writing; the Introduction, notes, and index aim at giving the text its proper historical setting, and the reader the means of studying St. Thomas within that setting.

Volume 2 includes substantial selections from the Second Part of the Summa Theologica and the Summa Contra Gentiles. Pegis's revision and correction of the English Dominican Translation renders Aquinas' technical terminology consistently as it conveys the directness and simplicity of Aquinas' writing; the Introduction, notes, and index aim at giving the text its proper historical setting, and the reader the means of studying St. Thomas within that setting.

Genres: Philosophy, Theology, Fiction, Religion

2362 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1945

About the author

Philosophy of Saint Thomas Aquinas, a Dominican friar and theologian of Italy and the most influential thinker of the medieval period, combined doctrine of Aristotle and elements of Neoplatonism, a system that Plotinus and his successors developed and based on that of Plato, within a context of Christian thought; his works include the Summa contra gentiles (1259-1264) and the Summa theologiae or theologica (1266-1273).

Saint Albertus Magnus taught Saint Thomas Aquinas.

People ably note this priest, sometimes styled of Aquin or Aquino, as a scholastic. The Roman Catholic tradition honors him as a "doctor of the Church."

Aquinas lived at a critical juncture of western culture when the arrival of the Aristotelian corpus in Latin translation reopened the question of the relation between faith and reason, calling into question the modus vivendi that obtained for centuries. This crisis flared just as people founded universities. Thomas after early studies at Montecassino moved to the University of Naples, where he met members of the new Dominican order. At Naples too, Thomas first extended contact with the new learning. He joined the Dominican order and then went north to study with Albertus Magnus, author of a paraphrase of the Aristotelian corpus. Thomas completed his studies at the University of Paris, formed out the monastic schools on the left bank and the cathedral school at Notre Dame. In two stints as a regent master, Thomas defended the mendicant orders and of greater historical importance countered both the interpretations of Averroës of Aristotle and the Franciscan tendency to reject Greek philosophy. The result, a new modus vivendi between faith and philosophy, survived until the rise of the new physics. The Catholic Church over the centuries regularly and consistently reaffirmed the central importance of work of Thomas for understanding its teachings concerning the Christian revelation, and his close textual commentaries on Aristotle represent a cultural resource, now receiving increased recognition.

Reviews

[sologdin · Rating 2 out of 5]

the consummate scholar-priest-intellectual. hard not to like him, even though am rarely agreeing.

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's complicated to say the least. I only read the first parts of the book, but I was able to get a grasp of Aquinas' methodology and ideas. The way he writes is very unique, it's very interesting but also very difficult to understand at times. I mean he even states that God is something humans can't comprehend, and if so, what is the point of the Sacred Doctrine? I have read Augustine and Aristotle, and yet I feel like I barely understood some of his explanations. There's no doubt that I am left with more questions than answers, definitely a book I should read again.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars
This work was thought-provoking, and I enjoyed following his logic throughout. Aquinas made some strong claims throughout this piece and explained each claim with easy-to-follow logic. I enjoyed reading how his brain worked and understanding the way he sees the world, especially human beings.

[Tasshin Fogleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 2010: Read Christian Creeds, (First Part) Questions 1, 2; Question 3, Articles 1-4; Question 4; Question 6, Articles 1-2; Question 7, Articles 1-2; Question 8, Article 1; Question 9, Article 1; Question 11, Articles 3-4; Question 12, Articles 1, 4, 7, 11-13 Question 13, Articles 1-5, 11-12.
In 2011: Read First Part of the Second Part, Question 90; Qu. 91, Articles 1-5; Qu. 93, Arts. 1-3, 5, 6; Qu. 94; Qu. 95, Arts. 1, 2; Qu. 96, Arts. 2-6; Qu. 97, Arts. 1-3; Qu. 100, Arts. 1-3, 9, 10, 12; Questions 106, 108, 109; Second Part of the Second Part, Questions 1, 2, 4.

[Daniel Seifert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I continue to pick up and read St. Thomas periodically on numerous topics and questions primarily theological/ethical. This new find of a Anton C. Pegis first printing by Random House (1945) keeps me from having to go to the local university library to access this classic theological treasury.

[Ann Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a LONG time to read this book, but I'm glad I did. I will never get around to reading the entire writing of the prolific theological philosopher, but this tome offered a good introduction and clarified, for me, why his work (controversial as it is and was) remains so significant.