The Metaphysics of Theism: Aquinas's Natural Theology in Summa Contra Gentiles IThe Metaphysics of Theism is the definitive study of the natural theology of Thomas Aquinas, the greatest of medieval philosophers, written by one of the world's most eminent scholars of medieval thought. Natural theology is the investigation by analysis and rational argument of fundamental questions about reality, considered in relation to God. Professor Kretzmann shows the continuing value of Aquinas's doctrines to the philosophical enterprise today; he argues that natural theology offers the only route by which philosophers can, as philosophers, approach theological propositions, and that the one presented in this book is the best available natural theology. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
One Theology from the Bottom Up | 23 |
Two The God of the SelfMovers | 54 |
Three The Existence of Alpha | 84 |
Four From Independence to Perfection | 113 |
Five From Perfection to Infinity | 139 |
Six Intellect | 169 |
Seven Will | 197 |
Eight Joy Love and Liberality | 226 |
A Chronology of Aquinass Life and Works | 255 |
A Table Indicating the Correspondence between Sections of Chapters of SCG I in the Pera Marietti Edition and the Pegis Translation | 258 |
| 271 | |
| 277 | |
| 285 | |
Other editions - View all
The Metaphysics of Theism : Aquinas's Natural Theology in Summa contra ... Norman Kretzmann No preview available - 1997 |
Common terms and phrases
acceptable accidens activity actuality agent Alpha already appears appetite apply Aquinas Aquinas's argued argument Aristotelian aspect associated attitude attributes basis beginning belief belongs Book called causation cause chapter characteristic characterized claim clearly cognition conclusion connection consideration considered continuing course creatures dependent developed discussion divine effect eliminative entity essential everything existence explanation fact follows God's human identified instance intellective interpretation kind least lines means metaphysics method motion moved mover natural theology necessary necessity object observes Paris passage passions perfection person philosophical position possible potentiality predicate present principle propositions provides question rational reason regards relationship respect revealed says seems self-mover sense simply sort specific stage step suppose takes thesis things true truth ultimate union universal universal perfection virtue volition