The logic of desire : Aquinas on emotion /

Lombardo (Univ. of Fribourg, Switzerland) has written a synthetic and insightful summary of Thomas Aquinas's account of the affections, and most specifically the passions (he links Thomas's use of "affection" to modern uses of the term "emotion"). Among the many works in this area, Lombardo's distinguishes his by integrating Thomas's "Treatise on the Passions" with other parts of the Summa Theologica and with Thomas's general anthropology. The first four chapters provide a close analysis of both the general and specific accounts of the passions, and the next four tie the passions into the related themes in Thomas of grace, the virtues (both human and theological), and Christology. The last two chapters provide an incisive summary and the beginnings of a "contemporary theology of emotion." Like many accounts, this volume is concerned to show the rich interlay of cognition and emotion in Thomas's anthropology. This is the basis for Lombardo's claim that Thomas's account can contribute significantly to contemporary discussions of emotion (which tend primarily to emphasize its cognitive aspects). The text is superbly written and exhaustively referenced. It will greatly benefit Thomistic and medieval scholars, as well as students of both theology and philosophy. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through researchers/faculty. J. C. Swindal Duquesne University