About the Book
Thomas Aquinas was one of the greatest Western philosphers and one of the greatest theologians of the Christian church. In this book we at last have a modern, comprehensive presentation of the total thought of Aquinas. Books on Aquinas invariably deal with either his philosophy or his theology. But Aquinas himself made no arbitrary division between his philosophical and his theological thought, and this book allows readers to see him as a whole. It introduces the full range of Aquinas' thinking; and it relates his thinking to writers both earlier and later than Aquinas himself.
Review :
`Like his master he balances the counterweighted demands of analysis and synthesis, of philosophy and theology, of history and science. In short, this book is the best of its type in English ... The Thought of Thomas Aquinas will be hailed as a great tribute to his master's genius.'
Gregorianum, Vol 75 (1994)
`wide-ranging and ... readable. ... it is accurate, accessible, and a thoroughly up-to-date account of the current state of scholarly debate ... It has a very helpful bibliography for the many readers who, while welcoming Davies's book as an overview of the subject, would like to pursue particular issues in more detail.'
Heythrop Journal
`It is primarily an introduction to the thought of Aquinas aimed at students of philosophy and theology. ... The book is thorough and economical.'
Choice Nov'92
`beautifully produced ... a clear and reliable work of reference for anyone who seeks a serious introduction to the thought of Thomas Aquinas.' Times Higher Education Supplement
`While based on a wide scholarly bibliography, the approach is refreshingly straightforward ... the student, the scholar, the preacher and the general reader alike will find in it fresh perspectives on the intellectual and pastoral concerns of the great Dominican.' Expository Times
`Brian Davies's book is at once timely and most welcome ... he is particularly well placed to offer an authoritative account of Aquinas's thought to an English speaking audience. This volume is aimed more at the general reader, who will appreciate accuracy and a clear overview of what is going on. Davies writes in a style which is clear, readable, and free of unnecessary jargon. He illustrates the more difficult points simply and helpfully. His readings of
Aquinas are a distillation of contemporary scholarship, accurate and well-controlled. The book is an excellent introduction to the saint, philosopher and theologian who founded the great tradition of
Dominican theology.' Gerard J. Hughes SJ, The Month, June 1992
`This book is a remarkable achievement. It brings alive a man about whose life we really know very little beyond the bare bones of his movements; and makes accessible a body of thought and writing which can seem forbidding to the modern reader.' New Blackfriars, May 1992
'a well-balanced exposition that takes the positive and negative sides in Aquinas' thought with equal seriousness ... The book is likely to establish itself quickly as a standard reference work.'
David Brown, University of Durham, Theology
'It is primarily an introduction to the thought of Aquinas aimed at students of philosophy and theology. The book is thorough and economical.'
E. Peters, University of Pennsylvania, Choice, Nov '92
'The book is an intellectually serious yet very accessible introduction to Aquinas which will be useful for undergraduates and still offer scholars much to think about and argue with ... Davies's lucid and straightforward exposition of Aquinas' views seems to dissolve many problems.'
John Jenkins, Journal of Theological Studies, Vol. 44, No. 1, April 1993
'His survey will interest general readers as well as professional philosophers and theologians.'
Theology Digest, Volume 40, No. 1, Spring 1993
'His survey will interest general readers as well as professional philosophers and theologians.'
Theology Digest, Vol. 40, No. 1, Spring 1993
'scholarly and certainly very much in touch with much recent philosophical and theological scholarship on the topics it treats'
Kenneth Konyndyk, The Cresset, September 1993
'this book is very much the work of a philosopher who is at home in both the scholastic and the contemporary analytic traditions ... He is clearly a highly sympathetic expositor who often goes to considerable pains to eliminate misunderstandings of Aquinas.'
The Innes Review, Volume XLV, No. 1
'very much in touch with recent philosophical and theological scholarship on the topics it treats.'
Kenneth Konyndyk, The Cresset
'This is a remarkable piece of work. The author writes well, with unusual clarity, showing a rare gift for making the thought of St Thomas understandable to the contemporary reader who is not a Thomist...admirable positive contribution of this masterly exposition of the vast sweep of St Thomas's thought for contemporary thinkers, laid out in such clear and accessible style.'
W Norris Clarke,SJ, International Philosophical Quarterly, Vol XXXIV, No 1, March 1994
'A warm and wide welcome may be expected for this book of remarkable clarity and comprehensiveness. The thought of Aquinas has been veiled by the increasing ignorance of Latin, of Church history and of theology, for a good generation now. This book will help to remove some of that ignorance, and perhaps even dispel some prejudice as well.'
Bulletin de Théol. Anc. et Méd. - Janv.-Déc. 1993
'the coverage is wide, and shows the subtlety with which an outstanding mind deals with such central problems as: God and His relation to Creation ... the amply documented account shows the relevance of St Thomas today - doubtless practising Christians will find his thoughts profitable for a deeper understanding of their faith.'
P.A. Monaghan, University of Exeter, Theological Book Review, Vol. 6, No. 3, June 1994
`comprehensive presentation of Aquinas's total thought'
Bibliographie de la Philosophie, 1-2-1994
`'...Many of his explicit interlocutors are contemporary English philosophers, and Davies seeks to set Thomas among them. For many readers this will be a strength of the book...''
Pro Ecclesia, Vol.VI, No.4
