Why should you read this book? Let me try to answer that. This book is about the relational aspect of Being. That right there is what is remarkable. Fr. Clarke shows us how the revelation of the Trinity actually helps us understand ourselves more fully. If God relates to (within) himself through this combination of relationality (being relational in nature) and substantiality (being a substance, a thisness), then, upon further inspection of what it means that we share in that Being, we see that we too find our most authentic mode of existing by living in this tension between being ourselves (a stand alone substance) and being defined by how we relate to others. Practically speaking, I think it's good for people to recognize that their existence, for its fulfillment, requires that they develop both aspects of themselves. As a child grows up, they have to successfully progress through increasingly complex relations with others. They start with their parents, then their friends, then their boyfriends/girlfriends, then their spouses. And in each stage, they go out to others and then come back to themselves a little bit different each time. You've met people who close themselves off to these relations. They close in on themselves. And they fail to live an authentically human existence. I think it's a book that's encouragement and reassurance for people who are committed to being as fully human as possible. It shows them that God himself is not far removed from their quest when they see that He too is relational in nature (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).

Norris Clarke, in this remarkable little book, sums up many years of intense philosophical exploration into the meaning of personhood. He writes of deep things without a trace of affectation, never burying the light of his message beneath a bushel-basket of jargon and cant. With gentle but insistent urgency, he challenges readers to appropriate their personhood--with all the infinite longing and immeasurable richness that implies. How many contemporary philosophical books have the power to change lives? This one does. Read it and find out for yourself.

This book packs a lot of material. As an anthology, as the other reviewer has ably mentioned, this is wonderful. This book would be extremely useful to the student of Christian theology (Roman Catholic or Protestant) or to the student of historical philosophy. If you are studying the works of Aquinas for history, a few words of caution. A lot of his philosophy is based on Aristotle. If you do not understand basic Aristotle, this can be painful at times. "Actualize" and "potential" and sufficient causes, etc. will appear a lot. If you are unfamiliar with what this terminology means, you will have slow going. This is just a problem with some philosophy. Kant, another member of the big-5 team of greatest philosophers, also suffers from a language barrier to modern readers. But like Kant, you can still get a lot out of it.

The editor of this book has put in a lot of useful and wonderful theology of Aquinas. This is good b/c not many people believe in his metaphysics anymore. So his theology may have more modern usefullness. Given his influence over Western Christianity and Roman Catholicism in particular, Aquinas is definitely worth the read. One of the small gems (and unexpected) was a part of Aquinas' commentary on I Cor. 15. Sections on the Problem of Evil are in here as well. I was surprised, but glad, to see that the editor left in a section on the problem of using language to describe God. This was a typical 20th century problem. It's good to see that there aren't many new philosophical problems.

If you are just getting into Aquinas (and you have some background in philosophy) this is a good place to start. If you are interested in theology, there is much in here for you as well. Given the structure of the book, you do not have to read straight through.

McDermott has provided the general reader with an excellent introduction to the substance of Aquinas's thought. Selections are taken from several works, not just the Summa Theologiae, and are arranged in an orderly manner that contributes much to the usefulness of this book. The first section discusses the division of the sciences; the second, ontology; the third, titled "The Ladder of Being," covers such topics as life and the soul, the senses, the mind, and the will. Following this come three large sections on God, filling more than half of the book. Each of the many passages begins with brief headnotes giving the origin of the passage, the philosophical genre to which it belongs, and translation notes on principal Latin terms. McDermott includes very little commentary of his own--Aquinas speaks for himself. The text is laid out very clearly with the judicious use of italics, brackets, and boldface type, all serving to clarify how Aquinas structured his arguments.

Recommended to anyone interested in Aquinas, but do not expect a condensed version of the Summa.

Thomas was slow to speak, a quiet and solemn youth. Yet he went on to become the Patron Saint of Catholic Schools and the greatest teacher ever in the history of the Catholic Church. For children ages 10 and up. 8 illustrations.

Saint thomas Aquinas was not really dumb he was smart! But was following the virtue of humility.

This is one of the most powerful little books ever written! It is a great help to anyone who wants to go further in their spiritual journey. You can take it one page at a time, and meditate; or read it all in about an hour.
This books brevity, utility, versatility, and accuracy make it one of the best aids to those trying to raise themselves closer to God.
If I could only own two books, they would be the Bible, itself, and The Ways of God.

I read this in one hour, avidly, soaking in the words on each page. I recommend it highly to everyone who wants to know how to be like God, to live according to His law, how to behave with each other in loving ways. Its also a description of Who God is, how much He loves His children and what we as His children must be to earn eternal life. I'm actually buying more than one to give as presents to friends, relatives. This book was based on St. Thomas Aquinas' writings, according to the preface. And even though it can be read in one hour, I intend to reread all parts as a kind of blueprint for what parts of my self, my life, need reviewing so that perhaps more understanding of GOd's plan, His Will, is at work in my life.

Flannery has done it again!! An aggiornamento in the dank world of postmodern thought! The world is better for Flannery's latest contributions to philosophical scholarship.

Many of us have heard of the masterpiece written by St. Thomas Aquinas in the 13th century, the Summa Theologiae. However, this very little known work by the Semiotician, Umberto Eco, writter of the novel In the Name of the Rose, presents in an easy to understand, and with great depth, the aesthetics and views of St. Thomas with respect to the beautiful, art, and music. Eco, allows the reader to understand with more clarity, the thought of Scholastic philosophical and aesthetic thought with reference to Thomas, Augustine, Boetheius, Plato, Aristotle and many other great thinkers found throughout the course of history. Furthermore, Eco interprets the Summa Theologiae to understand such concepts as: visio, musical theory, artist, and many others.

In simple to use language, Eco renews the inspiration and awe that was seen long ago in interpretation of the aesthetic. Thus, philosophy does not have to be something complicated, rather a basis for everything else we do. Therefore, when we see a painting, listen to a piece of music, read a poem, etc, we interpret the beauty that derives from that particular work and Eco, in this book shows us how we can do it by understanding the thought of one of the foremost thinkers of all time, St. Thomas Aquinas.

This book is a must have for philsophers, musicians, artists, and anyone who may be interested in interpreting art work, poetry, music, and the Beautiful with greater profundity.

Kenny's text on Aquinas is informative and to the point. If you want more than a shallow introduction to Aquinas' life and thought, this is an excellent place to begin. Like other contributions in the Past Masters series, the text offers a brief biography, articulates the main philosophical concerns, offers some criticism, then reflects on the consequences or influences of the subject under study.

Professor McInerny's translation of this polemical work of Aquinas' is clear and readable. His interpretive notes provide extremely helpful elucidation of the original text. The book has been quite useful for me in my understanding of Aquinas' theory of the nature of the human intellect.

This book is a small masterpiece of synthesis and inspired interpretation. Fr. Chenu was one of the leading medievalists of the twentieth century. His work contextualized St. Thomas' thought revealing the deep contemplative roots of the seemingly arid logic of the theological treatises as well as its political relevance for the medieval Church. The author's elucidation of the relationship between contemplation, praxis and "doing" theology in St. Thomas is pertinent to current debates about the nature and purpose of theological reflection. As Fr. Chenu explains, for St. Thomas theology was not only tied to lectio divina, and thus Scripturally based, but also directed to the common good, which "is more divine than individual moral perfection." St. Thomas is portrayed as a contemplative genius whose commitment to poverty, more than the sacrifice of an ascetic, manifested a concern with social justice.

The book is also particularly valuable for its clarification of St. Thomas' realism in contrast to the dialectical relationship between Grace and Nature of Augustinian theologies. Fr. Chenu points out that the modern nominalist assumption that the divine can only be made manifest in irrational thought-forms is countered by St. Thomas' demonstration that the rational is a reflection of God's wisdom. Epistemological realism is thus consistent with God's desire that we should abide in a universe which is knowable through the autonomous (albeit graced) rationality of creatures.

Aquinas is one of those figures who I know that I should know something about, but his writings are (far too) long and complicated. This book provides an excellent and serious introduction to Aquinas's thought--and one that is also very funny. The book covers topics like Aquinas' views on God, abortion, sex, and war, and it shows how Aquinas shaped our current attitudes. I have similar introductions to Aquinas by Copleston and Chesterton; the Renick volume is by far the most accessible of the three and the one from which I learned the most. It should be required reading.