Aquinas: Moral, Political, and Legal Theory (Modern Social & Political Philosophies) (Founders of Modern Political and Social Thought) - Softcover

Finnis, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0198780850 ISBN 13: 9780198780854

Publisher: Oxford University Press, U.S.A., 1998

Synopsis

Founders of Modern Political and Social Thought Series Editor: Dr Mark Philp, Oriel College, University of Oxford Founders of Modern Political and Social Thought present critical examinations of the work of major political philosophers and social theorists, assessing both their initial contribution and continuing relevance to politics and society. Each volume provides a clear, accessible, historically-informed account of each thinker's work, focusing on a re-assessment of their central ideas and arguments. Founders encourage scholars and students to link their study of classic texts to current debates in political philosophy and social theory. This launch volume in the Founders of Modern Political and Social Thought series presents a critical examination of Aquinas' thought, combining an accessible, historically-informed account of his work with a re-assessment of his central ideas and arguments. John Finnis presents a richly-documented review of Aquinas's ideas on morality, politics, law, and method in social science, using the philosopher's own long-neglected distinctions between types of order and types of theory. Unique in his coverage of Aquinas's primary and secondary texts and his own vigorous argumentation on many themes, the author focuses on the Aquinas's philosophy while also demonstrating how this interconnects with the theological elements. In his fresh, far-reaching re-reading of Aquinas, John Finnis argues out such questions as: Is egoism rational? Why is Aristotle's paternalism wrong? Has sexual morality any reasonable principle? What's wrong with lying and usury? Why are democracy and the rule of law aspects of the best polity? Drawing on over 60 of Aquinas's works, the author shows how, despite some medieval limitations, Aquinas makes profound, powerful contributions to present debates.

About this title

Review:

The text is extremely well documented and provides an extensive set of indices, including subject and citation, which allows the reader a thorough reference to the subjects treated. It also provides the reader a thorough treatment of Aquinas's views in regard to civil law..it is an outstanding achievement and the vanguard of a new series. (Scott Campbell Journal)

About the Author:

John Finnis is Professor of Law and Legal Philosophy at University College, Oxford, and Biolchini Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana. He has acted as a specialist advisor to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Commons, the Catholic Bishops' Committee on Bio-Ethical Issues, the International Theological Committee, and was vice-Chair of the Linacre Centre for Medical Ethics from 1987 to 1996. His publications include Natural Law and Natural Rights (O.U.P. 1980), Fundamentals of Ethics (O.U.P. and Georgetown U.P., 1983), Nuclear Deterrence, Morality, and Realism (O.U.P. 1987), and Moral Absolutes (Catholic University of America Press 1991).

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press, U.S.A.
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 0198780850
• ISBN 13: 9780198780854
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 408