Aristotle in Aquinas's Theology

Gilles Emery & Matthew Levering

Language: English

Published: Jul 15, 2015

Description:

Aristotle in Aquinas's Theology explores the role of Aristotelian concepts, principles, and themes in Thomas Aquinas's theology. Each chapter investigates the significance of Aquinas's theological reception of Aristotle in a central theological domain: the Trinity, the angels, soul and body, the Mosaic law, grace, charity, justice, contemplation and action, Christ, and the sacraments. In general, the essays focus on the Summa theologiae , but some range more widely in Aquinas's corpus. For some time, it has above all been the influence of Aristotle on Aquinas's philosophy that has been the center of attention. Perhaps in reaction to philosophical neo-Thomism, or perhaps because this Aristotelian influence appears no longer necessary to demonstrate, the role of Aristotle in Aquinas's theology presently receives less theological attention than does Aquinas's use of other authorities (whether Scripture or particular Fathers), especially in domains outside of theological ethics. Indeed, in some theological circles the influence of Aristotle upon Aquinas's theology is no longer well understood. Readers will encounter here the great Aristotelian themes, such as act and potency, God as pure act, substance and accidents, power and generation, change and motion, fourfold causality, form and matter, hylomorphic anthropology, the structure of intellection, the relationship between knowledge and will, happiness and friendship, habits and virtues, contemplation and action, politics and justice, the best form of government, and private property and the common good. The ten essays in this book engage Aquinas's reception of Aristotle in his theology from a variety of points of view: historical, philosophical, and constructively theological.

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Review

This is a highly readable account of the role that Aristotle plays in the theology of Aquinas...Over the years, Matthew Levering and Gilles Emery have helped this reviewer towards a better understanding of Aquinas. This excellent work is a further such contribution. Dr Pravin Thevathasan, Catholic Medical Quarterly

About the Author

Gilles Emery , O.P. is Professor of Dogmatic Theology at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland.

Matthew Levering is the Perry Family Foundation Professor of Theology at Mundelein Seminary.