Aquinas

This monograph presents a comprehensive philosophical analysis of Thomas Aquinas's theological system, demonstrating how his medieval synthesis of Aristotelian philosophy and Christian theology continues to offer sophisticated responses to perennial questions about God, human nature, and ethics. Stump examines Aquinas's arguments not as historical artifacts but as living philosophical positions that engage contemporary debates in philosophy of religion, metaphysics, and moral philosophy.

The work systematically explores Aquinas's natural theology, beginning with his arguments for God's existence and the divine attributes. Stump carefully reconstructs the Five Ways, showing how each argument depends on specific metaphysical principles about causation, necessity, and perfection. She defends these arguments against standard objections while acknowledging their dependence on Aristotelian assumptions that modern philosophy questions. The analysis extends to Aquinas's account of divine simplicity, eternality, and omniscience, demonstrating how these attributes form a coherent conception of God despite apparent tensions between them.

Central to Stump's interpretation is Aquinas's integration of philosophy and revealed theology. She examines how Aquinas uses philosophical reasoning to elucidate Christian doctrines like the Trinity and Incarnation, while maintaining that these mysteries exceed what natural reason can demonstrate. This methodological approach, which grants philosophy genuine autonomy while subordinating it to divine revelation, offers a model for faith-reason integration that contrasts with both fideism and rationalism.

The monograph dedicates substantial attention to Aquinas's virtue ethics and theory of human nature. Stump shows how Aquinas's account of the human person as a hylomorphic unity of body and soul supports his understanding of human flourishing and the ultimate end of beatific vision. His moral psychology, combining Aristotelian virtue theory with Christian theology of grace, provides resources for contemporary virtue ethics while maintaining a distinctly theistic framework.

Stump's analysis contributes to current philosophical theology by presenting Aquinas as a dialogue partner for contemporary philosophy of religion. She demonstrates how his positions on divine action, providence, and the problem of evil remain philosophically competitive, offering theistic responses to challenges from naturalism and religious skepticism. The work establishes Aquinas not merely as a historical figure but as a philosopher whose rigorous integration of reason and faith continues to advance theistic philosophy.