Product Description

Father O'Donnell invites readers to the often daunting, but highly rewarding search for truth by introducing them to the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas with the promise that such an effort will produce a kind of "addicting euphoria.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #673407 in Books
• Published on: 1995-09-11
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 122 pages

Customer Reviews

Clear and easily accessible presentation of profound ideas.
I have over a dozen books presenting the Realist philosophy as developed by Aquinas. This is the one I would recommend for a first introduction. Yet, ODonnell's presentation is so enlightening that I reread it. Also, includes interesting discussion of Einstien's theory of relativity. First-rate book.

Excellent little book
I have a B.A. (cum laude) in philosophy from a major U.S. university, and am currently finishing up an M.A. in Thomistic theology. If I were to choose one book to give to a complete novice who desired to learn about Aquinas' thought, or Thomistic philosophy, this book would definitely be the one (along with McInerny's). There is no shallow end in philosophy, particularly not for St. Thomas (Aquinas), but O'Donnell sees to it that the only difficulties the reader will encounter, are simply inherent in the subject matter, and not because of some obfuscation on the part of the writer (something often found in many writers on philosophy and Aquinas). After working through this book, I think the reader will then have the necessary background to tackle the Summa Theologica, or at least an abridged version (Peter Kreeft's annotated _Summa of the Summa_ comes to mind).

A Must Read
In a perfect world every serious student of philosophy would be required to start with Fr. O'Donnell's thrilling travelogue through the ancient streets of true philosophy. One is enlightened almost magically to the realization that there really are absolutes; that truth is not only within our reach but actually quite easily grasped. Error becomes readily identifiable,e.g, how the theory of relativity was falsely applied to the moral order until these modern times hold that everything is relative,indeed that there is no such thing as absolute truth.

This is an absolute "must read" for all men of good will.