Aquinas on Mind (Topics in Medieval Philosophy) - Hardcover

Kenny, Anthony

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0415044154 ISBN 13: 9780415044158

Publisher: Routledge, 1993

Synopsis

Aquinas' mature works, though theological in intent, contain much material which is philosophical in the sense that it is not in any way dependent on beliefs which are specifically Christian. His philosophical psychology, or philosophy of mind, was not taken seriously by secular thinkers, with one or two exceptions, from the 16th to the 19th centuries because of the dominance of ideas deriving from Descartes. In the present century many philosophers have come to regard the Cartesian system as quite exploded, and it can now be seen that Aquinas' philosophy of mind has a great contemporary interest and is indeed one of the best options in this area from any period. This book makes accessible those parts of Aquinas' system which are of enduring value. The kernal of the work is a close reading of the sections of "Summa Theologiae" which are devoted to human intellect and will and to the relationship between soul and body. It presupposes no knowledge of Latin or of medieval history, and relates Aquinas' system to a tradition of philosophy of mind inaugurated in the Anglo-American community by Wittgenstein and Ryle.

About this title

Review:

""Aquinas on Mind is an excellent introduction to the init ially strange 'medieval' pursuit of the understanding of understanding.... the work serves well as a pedagogical vehicle for for teaching aquinas to undergraduate students of philosophy and theology. A good number of Aquinas's qouted texts are given in the original Latin in endnotes for the more advanced student, with a modest bibliography (and index) for further research on the topic.."
-"Canadian Philosophical Reviews
""Aquinas on Mind brings out the depth and interest of the texts it discusses and should thus bring St. Thomas back into the centre of an extremely important debate which of course has ramifications well beyond the boundaries of academic philosophy."
-"The Tablet

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1993
• ISBN 10: 0415044154
• ISBN 13: 9780415044158
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 192