Aquinas on Metaphysics: A Historico-Doctrinal Study of the Commentary on the Metaphysics

ISBN-13: 9789024750450 / Angielski / Miękka / 1972 / 417 str.

James Conroy Doig; J. C. Doig

Opis

Thomas Aquinas' Commentary on the Metaphysics has long been con sidered by many as one of the most interesting, most rewarding of all his works. Yet strangely enough, there has been no extensive study of this work, at least none that has ever reached print. It is in the hope of partially filling this gap in medieval research that the present study of the metaphysical system of the Commentary was conceived. However, the discussion of the Commentary's metaphysics must simultaneously be an investigation into the reasons which motivated Aquinas in the composition of his work. Did he wish to expose only the theories of Aristotle, or did he simultaneously intend to present his own metaphysical views? Obviously, we must learn the answer to this before we can proceed to disentangle the metaphysical system, or systems, operative in Aquinas' Commentary. Up to the present day this problem, the nature of Aquinas' exposition has not been answered in a manner acceptable to all. Generally speak ing, three theories have been advanced. A first one would see the 1 Commentary as an objective exposition of Aristotle. A second opinion views Aquinas' exposition as an attempt to express his own personal 2 theories on metaphysics. And finally, the third view divides within the Commentary paragraphs containing Aquinas' personal thought ..."

Spis treści

One.- I. Literary and Chronologicale Aspects of the Commentary.- 1. Medieval Latin versions of the Metaphysics.- 2. The chronology of the composition of the Commentary.- II. The Metaphysical Views of Avicenna, Averroes, and Albert.- 1. Avicenna’s First Philosophy.- 2. The Commentary of Averroes.- 3. The Commentary of Albert.- III. The Prooemium to Aquinas’ Commentary.- 1. The doctrine of the Prooemium.- 2. The idea of ens commune.- 3. The doctrine of the via resolutionis.- 4. The introduction to Albert’s Commentary.- 5. The introductory book of Avicenna’s Metaphysics.- 6. Aristotle’s introduction.- 7. Conclusion of Part One.- Two.- IV. The Object of Metaphysics.- 1. The doctrine of Aquinas’ Commentary on the objects of metaphysics.- A. In IV Meta., lectio 1.- B. In IV Meta., lectio 2.- 2. Aristotle, Averroes, Albert: the predecessors of Aquinas’ In IV Meta., lectio 1.- A. Aquinas and Aristotle.- B. Aquinas versus Averroes and Albert.- 3. Aristotle, Averroes, Albert: the predecessors of Aquinas’ In IV Meta., lectio 2.- A. Aquinas and Aristotle.- B. Aquinas versus Averroes and Albert.- 4. Avicenna’s and Aquinas’ expositions of the object of metaphysics.- A. Avicenna’s metaphysics.- B. The fundamental criticisms of Avicenna given by Averroes, by Albert, and by Aquinas.- C. Aquinas’ use of several less important aspects of Avicenna’s metaphyscis.- 5. Conclusion.- V. The Relation of Metaphysics to the Other Sciences.- 1. The thought of Aquinas.- A. The “universal science” and the “first science”.- B. The study of communia.- C. Metaphysics as the “lord” of sciences.- 2. “Universal science” and “first science” in the predecessors of Aquinas.- A. The “universal science” and the “first science” in Aristotle’s thought.- B. Averroes and Albert on the identity of the “first science” and “universal science”.- C. Avicenna’s theory on “universal science” and “first philosophy”.- 3. Aristotle, Averroes, Avicenna, and Albert on metaphysics as the study of communia.- A. Aristotle’s doctrine.- B. Avicenna and the study of communia.- C. Averroes and Albert on the study of communia.- 4. Aquinas’ predecessors on metaphysics as the “lord” of all science.- A. Aristotle’s view.- B. Avicenna on metaphysics as the ruling science.- C. Averroes and Albert on metaphysics as the first of the sciences.- 5. Conclusion.- VI. The Method of Metaphysics.- 1. The Commentary’s metaphysics.- A. The birth of metaphysics.- B. Metaphysics and the investigation of predication.- C. The investigation of predication: the concept of “being”.- D. The investigation of predication: the distinction of matter and form.- E. The discovery of the existence of God.- F. The human attempt to speak of God.- G. Conclusions.- 2. Aquinas and Aristotle.- A. Aristotle on the birth of metaphysics.- B. The necessity of using a logical method.- C. The investigation of predication: the concept of “being”.- D. The investigation of predication: the distinction of matter and form.- E. The discovery of the existence of God.- F. The human attempt to speak of God.- G. Conclusion: Aquinas’ Commentary on the Metaphysics.- 3. Conclusion of Part Two.- Three.- VII. The Basic Insight of Aquina’s Commentary.- 1. The meaning of “is”.- 2. Intellectual knowledge.- 3. The meaning of “being”.- 4. The transcendental concepts.- 5. Metaphysics, the ruling science.- 6. Philosophical knowledge of God.- 7. Conclusion.- Conclusion.- Conclusion.- Index of Topics.- Index of Texts.