This book is a massive piece of work edited by Anthony Kenney, Jan Pinborg and the late Norman Kretzmann. Moreover, Eleonore Stump is an associate editor of this text as well. The book itself is over 1000 pages. It is a history of late medieval philosophy from about 1100 to 1600. The book is essentially a series of essays that deal with the various philosophical trends, ideas, issues, etc. that were prevalent within the aforementioned dates. The book deals with Aristotelian logic, logic in the middle ages (semantic theory), logic in the high middle ages, metaphysics and epistemology, natural philosophy, philosophy of mind and action, ethics, politics, and scholasticism. Thus, the reader of this text will gain a greater understanding about Abelard and old logic to free will and free choice to God's knowledge of future contingents, and much more. The Islamic philosophers and their influences and ideas are covered as well as the Jesus society philosophers of the late reformation period (i.e. Molina, Suarez, etc.). The text itself is not for the beginning philosophy student, thus the contributors expect their readers to have some back ground knowledge in the issues at hand. This book is meant for the serious student of this period. Therefore, if you love to study the philosophers of the Medieval period, then you will love the detail that this book provides. I highly recommend it.

Top medieval scholars edited this collection of essays by other top medieval scholars which brings to light some of the best thought regarding this important, but oft-neglected period in the history of philosophy. While nearly twenty years old, these essays are as enduring as the figures of which they are about. must for any serious student of the scholastic period of medieval philosophy.

This book honors two great thinkers in one collection of essays. The title of the book, "Aquinas' Moral Theory", tells that the authors included concern themselves with the various subjects related to Thomas Aquinas' rich account of human moral action and the principles of morality which help to define the nature of such actions. The subtitle, "Essays in Honor of Norman Kretzmann", tell us that the late Dr. Kretzmann is rightfully recognized as one of the great medieval and Thomistic interpreters of the past few decades. Not only is his own work of great value to scholars and students today; but that of his successors, Eleonore Stump and Scott MacDonald (who succeeded Dr. Kretzmann in his chair at Cornell University), is equally recognized as some the best scholarship currently being done. Readers of this book will find, among all the authors included, a scholarly rigorous and informative collection of essays which help those already familiar with the basics of Thomistic action theory and moral philosophy to delve more deeply into the relevant issues which are the subject of current debate in the philosophical arena.

The cover states the book is for "students and nonspecialist", which I found to be not true. The best example was in the chapter Metaphysics, if you do not already understand the concepts and especially Aquinas` arguements before reading the book you will definitly not understand them after reading the book. I felt the book confuses much more than enlightens.

As always, Norman Kretzmann and Eleonore Stump deliver another masterful work together. Each of these writers are experts in their philosophical field of Medieval Metaphysics and philosophy. For anyone interested in gaining a better grasp of one of the greatest philosophers in the history of philosophy, this volume will certainly help. Kretzmann and Stump have edited this volume and included some of the preeminent Thomistic philosophers of the last 40 years. Chapters cover Aquinas' thoughts on ethics, metaphysics, Aristotle and Aquinas, Aquinas' theory of knowledge, law and politics and theological issues. Thus, the essentials of Aquinas are here in one volume. Moreover,this is an excellent work for those who would like to dig deeper and gain a more throrough understanding of Aquinas, or for those who would like to simply be "peeping Thomists" and get a small glimpse of what Aquinas espoused.

Thomas Aquinas' metaphysics are very outdated. I find it amazing that this is still upheld as "the" source of truth for orthodox catholics. Much has been said and critisized, specially about Aristotle, which is the basis of most of what Aquinas has to say. You can't remove the foundation and expect the house to remain unaffected. But in this field stranger things have been known to happen. All in all, Aquinas is still a magnificent piece of work, an amazing intelectual trip and when not read directly, as it is in this case, it can even be fun.