Below are the links to all of my posts this semester on St. Thomas’s Summa contra Gentiles, based upon course and lecture notes for an upper-division medieval philosophy seminar. The Sapiential Cosmology of St. Thomas Aquinas (introductory overview of ScG) The Polyvalent Hierarchy of Wisdoms (introductory chapters of ScG) God’s Power and Creative Act (ScG, … Continue reading Series on the Summa contra Gentiles
Tag: summa contra gentiles
The Theocentric Drama of History
We conclude our examination of Summa contra Gentiles with an overview of ScG, III.114–146 and the surrounding chapters; a consideration of why Aquinas talks about law, and what topics are omitted in our course; on the legal and religious nature of the human person; in light of providence, on the possibility of a philosophy of … Continue reading The Theocentric Drama of History
God’s Providence, Governance, and the Stewardship of Creation
We now begin our study of God’s providence, which will occupy our attention for the remaining two posts of this series. In this post, we discuss ScG, III.64–113 as follows: an overview of ScG, III.64–77; some details from the above chapters; an overview of ScG, III.78–97; look at some aspects of the governance of creation … Continue reading God’s Providence, Governance, and the Stewardship of Creation
The Heavenly Vision of Love Itself
We now reflect briefly upon ScG, III.37–63. We consider: the lay of the land, an outline of topics; the principal arguments in these chapters, a higher via negativa regarding human felicity; some concluding reflections on the result of this argumentation. consider the nature of the beatific vision; the relationship of nature and grace to man’s … Continue reading The Heavenly Vision of Love Itself
The Natural Desire to See God
Having set the stage of the universe’s dramatic return to God, Aquinas discusses in ScG, III.25 in incipient terms the height of creation’s likeness to God. a summary of ScG, III.25; a deeper consideration of the notion of “natural desire”; a brief review of alternative positions and objections to Aquinas; some concluding thoughts and questions … Continue reading The Natural Desire to See God
The Heavens and the Glory of God
We continue our study of Summa contra Gentiles, Book III. The plan is as follows: discuss the lay of the land, an outline of topics; the divine likeness in the cosmos; cosmology and intellectual movers and designers; some concluding thoughts and questions. 10.1. The Approach to the Ultimate Good Below is how Summa contra Gentiles, … Continue reading The Heavens and the Glory of God
The Human Heart, Not Beyond Good or Evil
In our consideration of St. Thomas Aquinas’s other Summa, we are now ready to begin Book III. The plan is as follows: discuss the lay of the land, an outline of topics; consider the opening chapter; discuss the beginning of St. Thomas’s consideration of the end; some preparatory thoughts on good and evil; discuss the … Continue reading The Human Heart, Not Beyond Good or Evil
The Universe is a Communion of Persons
We continue our exploration of the Summa contra Gentiles, in this post ending Book II. St. Thomas’s tour of creation—at least as far as intellectual substances go—is nearly complete. The stage is nearly set for the drama of the history of the universe. The plan is as follows: an overview of the reading, ScG, II.91–101; … Continue reading The Universe is a Communion of Persons
Beyond Human Death
What Awaits Us Beyond Death? For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and in the last day I shall rise out of the earth. And I shall be clothed again with my skin, and in my flesh I will see my God. Whom I myself shall see, and my eyes shall behold, and not another: this … Continue reading Beyond Human Death
The Beginning of Human Life
We continue our discussion of St. Thomas’s exploration of the beginning and end of human life, and focus upon when a human person comes into existence. Our question: When does a human person come into existence? Our answer: At the moment of conception. 7.5. Parameters and Limits of the Discussion This discussion is, in a … Continue reading The Beginning of Human Life
John G. Brungardt 