Metaphysical Themes in Thomas Aquinas III

Metaphysical Themes in Thomas Aquinas III is Msgr. John Wippels third volume dedicated to the metaphysical thought of Thomas Aquinas. After an introduction, this volume of collected essays begins with Wippels interpretation of the discovery of the subject of metaphysics by a special kind of judgment (separation). In subsequent chapters, Wippel turns to the relationship between faith and reason, exploring what are known as the preambles of faith. This is followed by two chapters on the important contributions by Cornelio Fabro on Aquinass distinction between essence and esse and on participation. The volume continues with articles on Aquinass view of creation as a preamble of faith, Aquinass much-disputed defense of unicity of substantial form in creatures, his account of the separated souls natural knowledge, and Aquinass understanding of evil in his De Malo 1. The volume concludes with an article comparing Bonaventure, Aquinas, and Godfrey of Fontaines on the metaphysical composition of angelic beings. Most of these issues were disputed during Aquinass time by some of his contemporaries, and the proper understanding of each continues to be debated by various students of his thought today. Wippels purpose, therefore, is to help clarify our understanding of Aquinass thought on each of these topics, a task that requires the careful analysis of primary sources and of secondary literature and attention to the relative chronology of his writing.