Read more
This book is a detailed introduction to and discussion of Thomas Aquinas's best-known and most influential work: the Summa Theologiae. After a scholarly account of Aquinas's life, the book explores his purposes in writing the Summa Theologiae and provides a detailed analysis of each of its three parts.
List of contents
- Preface
- 1. Setting the Summa Theologiae
- 2. Sacred Teaching (1a,1)
- 3. Knowing That God Exists (1a,1,2)
- 4. The Divine Nature: Part 1 (1a,3-13)
- 5. The Divine Nature: Part 2 (1a,14-26)
- 6. The Divine Trinity (1a,27-43)
- 7. Creation, Good, and Evil (1a,44-49)
- 8. Angels and the Days of Creation (1a,50-74)
- 9. Human Beings and Divine Government (1a,75-119)
- 10. Happiness, Human Action, and Morality (1a2ae,1-21)
- 11. Emotions (1a2ae,22-48)
- 12. Dispositions, Virtues, Gifts, Beatitudes and Fruits (1a2ae,49-70)
- 13. Sin (1a2ae,71-85)
- 14. Law, Old Law, New Law, and Grace (1a2ae,90-114)
- 15. Faith, Hope, and Charity (2a2ae,1-46)
- 16. Prudence, Justice, and Injustice (2a2ae,47-79)
- 17. Religion and Other Matters to do With Justice (2a2ae,80-122)
- 18. Courage and Temperance (2a2ae,123-170)
- 19. Freely Given Graces, Kinds of Life, and States of Life (2a2ae,171-189)
- 20. God Incarnate (3a,1-26)
- 21. The Life, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ (3a,27-59)
- 22. The Sacraments of the Christian Church (3a,60-90)
- 23. Epilogue
- Appendix: The Summa Theologiae at a Glance
- Bibliography
- Index
About the author
Brian Davies is Professor of Philosophy at Fordham University and Honorary Professor at Australian Catholic University. He published numerous on Aquinas, including Thomas Aquinas on God and Evil (OUP 2011).
Summary
This book is a detailed introduction to and discussion of Thomas Aquinas's best-known and most influential work: the Summa Theologiae. After a scholarly account of Aquinas's life, the book explores his purposes in writing the Summa Theologiae and provides a detailed analysis of each of its three parts.
Additional text
Most of us engaged in studying Christian theology would of course say that Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologiae is a classic, an essential text, which we should all read and re-read. The truth is, however, that, while the clarity of the arguments and the systematic presentation are very attractive, most newcomers and even old hands need a good deal of help to keep going: no one is better qualified than Brian Davies, after years of teaching and writing about it, to guide us: the study of the Summa will be greatly facilitated and enriched by this excellent commentary.
