Medieval Philosophy Elaborating Faith: Thomistic Metaphysics and Ethics (AP2121C)

Content

This unit explores the thought of the medieval philosopher and theologian Thomas Aquinas (1225–74), with a focus on his ethics and his metaphysics. It is suitable as an introduction both to medieval philosophy and to the main elements of Thomistic thought. The unit examines selected themes in Aquinas in their medieval context, in the context of Aquinas’ own thought, and in the context of the later history of Thomism. The unit introduces some key Thomistic doctrines and the fundamental concepts of Thomistic philosophy, in addition to ‘patterns of thought’ that are distinctively Thomistic. Topics covered may include: metaphysics and the real distinction of being and esse, virtue theory, natural law, cosmology and the perfection of the universe, the human soul and immortality.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

AP2210C: 36 points of philosophy at first level AP3210C: 36 points of philosophy at second level

Pedagogy

Lectures, seminars, tutorials

Indicative Bibliography

• Blanchette, Oliva. The Perfection of the Universe According to Aquinas: A Teleological Cosmology. University Park, PA: Pennsylvania State University, 1992.
• Boyle, Leonard E. Facing History: A Different Thomas Aquinas. Louvain-La-Neuve: Federation Internationale des Instituts d'Etudes Medievales, 2000.
• Davies, Brian. Aquinas. London: Continuum, 2002.
• Hause, Jeffrey, and Claudia Eisen Murphy, trans. Thomas Aquinas: Disputed Questions on Virtue. Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing, 2010.
• Jordan, Mark D. Rewritten Theology: Aquinas After his Readers. Malden, MA: Blackwell, 2006.
• Kerr, Fergus. Contemplating Aquinas: On the Varieties of Interpretation. London: SCM Press, 2003.
• Pope, Stephen J. The Ethics of Aquinas. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 2002.
• Rziha, John. Perfecting Human Actions: St. Thomas Aquinas on Human Participation in Eternal Law. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 2009.
• Te Velde, Rudi A. Participation and Substantiality in Thomas Aquinas. Leiden; New York: E.J. Brill, 1995.
• Wippel, John F. The Metaphysical Thought of Thomas Aquinas: From Finite Being to Uncreated Being. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 2000.

Assessment