On The Virtues

by Thomas Aquinas, John Patrick Reid

In his Treatise on the Virtues, Aquinas discusses the character and function of habit; the essence, subject, cause, and meaning of virtue; and the separate intellectual, moral, cardinal, and theological virtues. His work constitutes one of the most thorough and incisive accounts of virtue in the history of Christian philosophy. John Oesterle's accurate and elegant translation makes this enduring work readily accessible to the modern reader.

"At the heart of this treatise are the subtle but crucial distinctions St. Thomas draws among the intellect and will, and the intellectual, moral, and theological virtues�establishing at the same time their interdependence. The discussion of prudence, as the bridge between the intellectual and moral virtues, is one of the classic accomplishments of Western thought." �Faith & Reason

Genres: Philosophy, Religion, Theology, Medieval

188 pages

First published January 1, 1951

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

[Luke Shuffield · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very challenging read, but rewarding. I would highly recommend Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics as a foundation first, since Aquinas references it liberally.

[Ray A.]

I've tried reading this book over the years and have always given up. This time I was able to read it through to the end and get quite a bit out of it. One of the things that made a difference was listening to an audio recording of it multiple times and taking notes. Here's the YouTube link or URL for the LibriVox recording: Summa Theologica - 08 Pars Prima Secundae, Treatise on Habits, Virtues and Vices Part 1/4.

[Rick Lee Lee James · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a hard book to read.