Product Description

In this edition of his study of St Thomas Aquinas, Etienne Gilson presents the range and organic unity of Thomistic philosophical thought. The philosophical thinking of Aquinas is the result of reason being challenged to relate to many theological conceptions of the Christian traditions. Gilson carefully reviews how Aquinas grapples with various aspects of the meeting of faith and reason, starting with the relation between faith and reason and continuing through the existence and nature of God and His creation, the world and its creatures, especially human beings with their power of intellect, will and moral life. He concludes this study by discussing the life of people in society, along with their purpose and final destiny. Gilson demonstrates that Aquinas drew from a wide spectrum of sources in the development of this thought - from the speculations of the ancient Greeks such as Aristotle, to the Arabic and Jewish philosophers of his time, as well as from Christian writers and scripture. "The Christian Philosophy of St Thomas Aquinas" offers students of philosophy and medieval studies an introduction to the thought of Aquinas and the Scholastic philosophy of the Middle Ages.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #84623 in Books
• Published on: 1994-03-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 502 pages

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

Customer Reviews

An excellent introduction to the thought of Aquinas
Gilson has exceptional skill in explaining difficult philosophical concepts. He lays out the existential foundations of St. Thomas Aquinas' thought and makes a compelling case that "the metaphysical positions of Aquinas are still far ahead of what is considered most progressive in the philosophical thought of our own times." Gilson relates the thought of Aquinas to that of his predecessors, especially Aristotle and Augustine. Although this book can be difficult reading at times, the reader will be rewarded by the effort.

Being and Somethingness
As the other reviewers have said, this book is truly a classic, and like most of Gilson's opus is well worth reading by anyone interested in philosophy. Particularly strong are the early chapters on being (ontology) and on Aquinas's famous proofs of the existence of God.

Gilson wants to convince as well as explain, so the tone can be a little tendentious at times, but generally his prose is lucid, even lyrical. Also, in my opinion the final chapter somewhat blurs the distinction between Thomism and saving faith.

Ultimately, however, this book fully succeeds in getting under the skin of Thomistic philosophy. After reading it, you may never see "things" in quite the same way.

Summit Theologica via Summa Theologica +++
This Rosicrucian reader sees that the Summma Theologica of St. Thomas Aquina is indeed the Summmit Theologica -- and, that Etienne Gilson is, perhaps, the clearest and sharpest proponent [still available] of St. Thomas Aquinas -- and, that "The Christian Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas" by Etienne Gilson is, perhaps, the best single work [still available] on this topic. To amplify on the impact of Thomism, I quote from the start, middle and ending of an earlier edition's dust-jacket +++

"St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1279) is the medieval mind at its finest, its most powerful and its most modern. Never before -- and possibly never since -- in the history of man's quest for knowledge of God and the universe has any one man produced such a profound and original synthesis of philosophies. The sweeping range and organic unity of Thomistic thought is a philosophical system created by a thinker of genius."

"Drawing from pagan, Mohammadan and Jewish sources in addition to Christian writers and the Bible, his broad vision combines in one synthesis the metaphysical principles of reality, its inward structure, the nature of man, the principle of his moral and civil conduct and the solution of his destiny. This Doctrinal statement -- written in the form of the Summa Theologica -- was fraught with incalculable philosophical, moral and religious consequences."

"A synthesis of faith and reason, of moral and political science, and of Hellenism and Christianity, the philosophy of St, Thomas Aquinas stands as one of the greatest achievements of human thought, and the brilliant culmination of the Scholastic philosophy of the Middle Ages."

"Etienne Gilson's incomparable scholarship combines the insight of a philosopher and a theologian with the sensibilities of a dedicated artist."