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Discovering Aquinas: An Introduction to His Life, Work, and Influence
Thomas Aquinas is one of the great figures of church history, and his ideas continue to have a powerful effect on theologians and contemporary writers from very different backgrounds and traditions. In Discovering Aquinas Aidan Nichols offers a lively and authoritative introduction to the life, thought, and ongoing influence of this singular churchman.
This book could not have come at a better time. After a lengthy period of declining interest in Aquinas, we are starting to see a Thomistic renaissance, including a renewed appreciation for the way Aquinas's work so brilliantly weaves together philosophy, theology, spirituality, revelation, and ethics. As Nichols writes, "It is because of the wonderfully integrated character of the wisdom of Thomas Aquinas -- integrated not only as supernatural with natural but also as thinking with love -- that the church in our day should not leave him as a fresco on a wall but find inspiration from his teaching and example."
By means of writing as felicitous as it is insightful, Nichols chronicles the compelling facts of Aquinas's life, explores the major facets of his thought, establishes Aquinas's historical importance, and shows why many today are regarding him as a vital partner in current debates about the future of Christianity.
This book could not have come at a better time. After a lengthy period of declining interest in Aquinas, we are starting to see a Thomistic renaissance, including a renewed appreciation for the way Aquinas's work so brilliantly weaves together philosophy, theology, spirituality, revelation, and ethics. As Nichols writes, "It is because of the wonderfully integrated character of the wisdom of Thomas Aquinas -- integrated not only as supernatural with natural but also as thinking with love -- that the church in our day should not leave him as a fresco on a wall but find inspiration from his teaching and example."
By means of writing as felicitous as it is insightful, Nichols chronicles the compelling facts of Aquinas's life, explores the major facets of his thought, establishes Aquinas's historical importance, and shows why many today are regarding him as a vital partner in current debates about the future of Christianity.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
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About the author
Aidan Nichols
107 books48 followersJohn Christopher "Aidan" Nichols O.P., S.T.M. (born 17 September 1948) is an English academic and Catholic priest.
Nichols served as the first John Paul II Memorial Visiting Lecturer at the University of Oxford for 2006 to 2008, the first lectureship of Catholic theology at that university since the Reformation. He is a member of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) and is the Prior of St Michael the Archangel in Cambridge.
Nichols served as the first John Paul II Memorial Visiting Lecturer at the University of Oxford for 2006 to 2008, the first lectureship of Catholic theology at that university since the Reformation. He is a member of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) and is the Prior of St Michael the Archangel in Cambridge.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 28, 2010
As, at best an agnostic, it was very interesting to read a book so completely grounded in the Catholic tradition, and so completely assured of the basic tenets of the Christian faith. That said, I picked up the book at the library because I wanted to learn more about Thomas Aquinas' philosophy, and "Discovering Aquinas" really didn't do that job.
In addition, Aidan Nichols' language is clearly influenced by a long acquaintance with Latin, and when an obscure word can be found, he'll use it. There is also an assumed knowledge of Catholic intellectual history that leads to many references that the more casual reader will not be able to track.
What does become clear, however, is the intellectually convoluted gyrations necessary to accomplish Aquinas' goal of reconciling faith (in this case orthodox Catholicism) and reason (Aristotle rather than Plato) can't help but create a host of elaborate justifications. To reference another medieval thinker, William of Ockham's "razor" (simple explanations are better than complex ones) cuts to the quick, as, for example, creating a logical structure that accounts for angels makes the epicycles of ancient astronomy seem crystal clear in comparison.
Nonetheless, reading Aquinas on the Trinity and theological cosmology is interesting, and Nichols, language aside, does a reasonably quick and cogent job of putting these medieval ideas in terms 21st century readers can understand.
Still, I wouldn't recommend this book to any but someone seriously interested in Catholicism and its philosophical underpinnings. For those readers, though, this brief work is an excellent introduction to one of the most influential thinkers of the past thousand years.
In addition, Aidan Nichols' language is clearly influenced by a long acquaintance with Latin, and when an obscure word can be found, he'll use it. There is also an assumed knowledge of Catholic intellectual history that leads to many references that the more casual reader will not be able to track.
What does become clear, however, is the intellectually convoluted gyrations necessary to accomplish Aquinas' goal of reconciling faith (in this case orthodox Catholicism) and reason (Aristotle rather than Plato) can't help but create a host of elaborate justifications. To reference another medieval thinker, William of Ockham's "razor" (simple explanations are better than complex ones) cuts to the quick, as, for example, creating a logical structure that accounts for angels makes the epicycles of ancient astronomy seem crystal clear in comparison.
Nonetheless, reading Aquinas on the Trinity and theological cosmology is interesting, and Nichols, language aside, does a reasonably quick and cogent job of putting these medieval ideas in terms 21st century readers can understand.
Still, I wouldn't recommend this book to any but someone seriously interested in Catholicism and its philosophical underpinnings. For those readers, though, this brief work is an excellent introduction to one of the most influential thinkers of the past thousand years.
February 10, 2023
Fr. Nichols OP, once again, shows his brilliance when it comes to exploring the depths and presenting the thoughts of salient Catholic thinkers like von Balthasar and Ratzinger, and here, with St. Thomas, the foremost of them all. This work should serve as a decent introduction to the persona of St. Thomas and the immensity of his contribution, not only to the Catholic intellectual tradition but also to the entire philosophical enterprise. St. Thomas remains, par excellence, the primary exponent of sacred doctrine, natural theology, and philosophical synthesis in Christianity. The only qualm that I have with this text is its knack for making sentences more complicated than they should be. It would be more preferable for introductory texts such as this to be more reader-friendly, especially when we expect those not yet acquainted with St. Thomas to approach this work with the hope of getting to know what he is all about.
March 19, 2014
A good, relatively clear summary and introduction to St Tommy. It's written by a RC scholar so it is sympathetic. One would have to look elsewhere for criticism.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews