T H O M A S AQ U I NA S His Personality and Thought Martin Grabmann THOMASA QUINAS THOMA S AQUINAS H i.rP ersonaalnidtT yh ought By DR.M ARTING RABMANN AUTHORIZEDT RANSLATION By VIRGIL MICHEOL.,S .BP.tt,. D. NEW YORK RUSSELL& RUSSELL INC · I 69 3 �ibiceltu� tat:A RTHJU.SR C ANLASN.,T .DC.e,n Lsiobrr orum 3Jmprimat�uPrA: TRICCKA RDINHAALY ESA,r chbNieswrh orokp , Newr o rJku,yl3 I ,I9 28 FIRSTP UBLISHED IN I9 28 REISSUED,1 96B3Y ,RU SSELL & RUSSELL,I NC. L. C. CATALOG CARD NO: 63-15100 MADEI NT HE UNITSETDA TEOSF AMERICA TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE HE translation of this book was un­ dertaken as a labor of love. As the work progressed, the love never di­ minished though the labor increased beyond all expectation. That the translation was undertaken at all was due to the belief that a small introductory volume, written by the foremost Thomistic student and re­ search scholar of modern times, should be a wel­ come addition to the growing body of English liter­ ature on what has been called the Scholastic Revival of our day. In verifying the numerous texts quoted from the works of St. Thomas, it was necessary to compare the German translation with the original Latin and with available English translations. It has been the trans­ lator's endeavor to give an English version that most faithfully renders the thought of Thomas. Whether the result is a more intelligible expression of that thought, others must judge. While the non- v THOMAS AQUINAS Scholastic mind is probably not set for the task of translating any part of St. Thomas, the modern Scho­ lastic is very prone to read into his words variations of meaning that have developed in Scholastic tradi­ tion only after the thirteenth century. Where on a few occasions the German texts of Dr. Grabmann contained elucidating terms or phrases, rendering the thought of St. Thomas more clear to the modern mind, the translator followed suit, since there is probably no living scholar better versed in the study of St. Thomas and of Scholastic sources than Dr. Grabmann. It is scarcely necessary to state that the present pages constitute a mere introduction to the philosophy of St. Thomas. They are consequently quite in­ adequate for a full appraisal of the true value of his thought. Still, many may find neither time nor lei­ sure to go beyond such an introductory work. Is it presumptuous to remind them that in judging the thought of another there is no acceptable criterion that does not try to be whrlly objective? It is the simplest things that are most true and at times most in need of emphasis. Hence it may be pardonable to suggest to non-Thomistic readers that inability to accept one or both premises of an argument is not of itself an unfailing indication that the statement given as conclusion is false; and to remind readers sym­ pathetic to St. Thomas that belief in a conclusion is vi TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE of itself no guarantee that the premises or the reason­ ing are therefore beyond all cavil. While the work of translation was going on, the original appeared in its fifth revised edition. The many small changes and additions, necessitated by the historical research carried on so vigorously today especially in Scholastic sources, have been embodied in the present volume. An acknowledgment of thanks to the Reverend Dr. Gerald B. Phelan of St. Michael's College, Uni­ versity of Toronto, scarcely suffices to indicate either the patient care with which he rea:d the translated manuscript or the numerous corrections resulting therefrom. Many improvements in language and in more accurate rendition are due to his valuable sug­ gestions. V.M . vii CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE TRANSLATORP'RSE FACE v PAR'T ONE: PERSONALI'TYO F S'T.'T HOMAS I.L IFEO F ST.T HOMAS I II.LI TERARLYA BORSO F ST.T HOMAS I 8 III.S T.T HOMASA S SCHOLAR 28 IV.S OURCEOSF THOMISTIC THOUGHT 53 V. STRUGGLFEO RL EADERSHIINP S CHOLASTIC THOUGHT 57 PAR'T 'TWO: 'THE 'T HOMIS'TJC SYNTHESIS VI.T HOUGHTA ND BEING.F AITHA NDK NOWL- EDGE 68 VII.E x1STENCAEN DE ssENCOEF Goo 97 VIII.G oD ANDT HEW oRLD no IX.N ATUREO F THEH uMAN SouL 122 x. INTELLECTUKANLO WLEDGOEF MAN 136 XI.S YSTEOMF ETHICS I5 0 XII.P OLITICAANLD SOCIAPLH ILOSOPHY 16I XIII.T HOUGHTSO N CHRISTIANIATNYD THE �U�H 1n XIV.C ONCLUSIONM:E THOD OF ACQUIRINAG SCIENTIFUINCD ERSTANDIONFG T HOMAS AQUINAS 182 ix