St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas, O.P. (1225-1274) was a Catholic priest and Dominican friar. A Doctor of the Church, he is widely considered to be the most important and comprehensive Catholic theologian. His work, which synthesized orthodox Catholic teachings with the works of Aristotle, offers a model for the integration of faith and reason and a scathing criticism of “double truth.” His two greatest works, the Summa Theologiae and the Summa Contra Gentiles, provide a sweeping defense of Catholic theology and philosophy.

In this video, Dr. Christopher Tomaszewski, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, talks with Fr. Thomas Petri, the President of the Dominican House of Studies, about Thomas Aquinas’ understanding of truth.

Preferred Translations:

(for beginners with the Summa):

Thomas Aquinas, The Essential Summa Theologiae, ed. Frederick Christian Bauerschmidt, 2nd Edition (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2021).
Thomas Aquinas, Summa of the Summa, ed. Peter Kreeft (San Francisco: Ignatius, 1990).

(for Latin-English comparison for the Summa):

Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae: Complete Set (Latin-English Opera Omnia) (Emmaus Academic, 2012).

(other great works):

Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, trans. C.J. Litzinger, O.P. (South Bend: St. Augustine’s Press, 1993).
Thomas Aquinas, Compendium of Theology, trans. Richard J. Regan (New York: Oxford University Press, 2009).
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Contra Gentiles, trans. Anton C. Pegis (South Bend: University of Notre Dame Press, 1975).

Insightful Secondary Literature:

G.K. Chesterton, St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Francis of Assisi (San Francisco: Ignatius, 2002).
Etienne Gilson, The Christian Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas (South Bend: University of Notre Dame Press, 1994).
Ralph McInerny, A First Glance at St. Thomas Aquinas: A Handbook for Peeping Thomists (South Bend: University of Notre Dame Press, 1989).
Josef Pieper, A Guide to St. Thomas Aquinas (San Francisco: Ignatius, 1991).

Useful External Links:

The Catholic Thing Courses: Ralph McInerny on Thomas Aquinas
Great Thinkers: Thomas Aquinas
New Advent: Free Online Translation of Summa
The Thomistic Institute – Aquinas 101