Aquinas's ethics : metaphysical foundations, moral theory, and theological context /

The title of this short work captures its central aim. DeYoung and Van Dyke (both, Calvin College) and McCluskey (Saint Louis Univ.) hope to show the metaphysical foundations of Aquinas's moral theory by placing it within the broader Christian theological context of his work. The study is divided into three parts. The first section is dedicated to an exposition of the "metaphysics of human nature" in St. Thomas. The second section, a detailed analysis of Aquinas's action theory, includes a treatment of his development of the Aristotelian idea of "habit formation," a helpful catalog of bad actions (the sins of "ignorance," "passion," and "will"), and an excellent summary of the complex relations obtaining between intellect and will. In the final section, the authors seek to "integrate" the concepts of virtue, grace, and law, showing how the full articulation of Thomas's work must be phrased in theological terms. Rejecting as narrow and "unbalanced" the contemporary view of Thomas as a "natural law ethicist," the authors try to restore (or relegate) the natural law to its rightful place in his thought. Although this material is well-traveled ground for the scholar, it provides a first-rate introduction for the undergraduate audience. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-level undergraduate students and above. W. P. Haggerty Gannon University