Saint Thomas Aquinas

Saint Thomas Aquinas is one of the most influential Catholic theologians of all time, and left behind a vast body of work on an impressively wide range of subjects. In particular, he believed that theology could not exist without philosophy, that reason can allow us to attain knowledge of God’s existence, and that happiness is a key goal of human existence. In just 50 minutes, you will learn about the essential elements of Thomist thought, the heated discussions they sparked within the Catholic Church, and their enduring influence on Christian doctrine.

This straightforward and informative book provides a thorough discussion of Aquinas’s work, including his two masterpieces the Summa theologiae and the Summa contra gentiles, and their impact on Catholic doctrine. It also features a full biography, a valuable introduction to the political, social and religious context and a discussion of Scholasticism, the school to which he belonged, giving you all the essential information about one of the most influential philosophers of all time.

About Saint Thomas Aquinas

Saint Thomas Aquinas was a 13^th-century philosopher and theologian, known in particular for his work on the interdependence of reason and faith and for his development of Aristotle’s ideas. As a young man he joined the recently founded Dominican Order, and after completing his studies he went on to have a lengthy teaching career in European universities. He was canonized by Pope John XXII (1245-1334) on 18 July 1323 and made a Doctor of the Church in 1567. In the 20^th century, the popes John Paul II (1920-2005) and Benedict XVI (born in 1927) both confirmed Aquinas’s central position in Catholic doctrine.

This clear and accessible 70-page book is structured as follows:

• Introduction to Saint Thomas Aquinas
• Biography of Saint Thomas Aquinas
• Context
  • The founding of the Dominican Order
  • The development of universities
  • From Plato to Aristotle
• Highlights
  • Aristotelian thought and the controversy over Latin Averroism
  • Aquinas’s masterpieces
  • Reaching God through reason
  • A new conception of the soul
  • An original political outlook
  • The morality of happiness
  • Aquinas’s death
• Impact of Aquinas’s work
  • Controversial ideas
  • The legacy of Thomism
  • In conclusion
• Summary