Aquinas on Mind

Aquinas'matureworks,thoughtheologicalinintent,containmuchmaterialwhichisphilosophicalinthesensethatitisnotinanywaydependentonbeliefswhicharespecificallyChristian.Hisphilosophicalpsychology,orphilosophyofmind,wasnottakenseriouslybysecularthinkers,withoneortwoexceptions,fromthesixteenthtothenineteenthcenturiesbecauseofthedominanceofideasderivingfromDescartes.InthepresentcenturymanyphilosophershavecometoregardtheCartesiansystemasquiteexploded,anditcannowbeseenthatAquinas'philosophyofmindhasagreatcontemporaryinterest.ThisbookmakesaccessiblethosepartsofAquinas'systemwhichareofenduringvalue.ThekerneloftheworkisaclosereadingofthesectionsofSummaTheologiaewhicharedevotedtohumanintellectandwillandtotherelationshipbetweensoulandbody.ItpresupposesnoknowledgeofLatinorofmedievalhistory,andrelatesAquinas'systemtoatraditionofphilosophyofmindinauguratedintheAnglo-AmericancommunitybyWittgensteinandRyle.AnthonyKennyisunusuallyqualifiedtobringtogetherthemedievalandmodernphilosophicalinsights,sincehewastrainedinscholasticphilosophyattheGregorianUniversityinRomeandhastaughtanalyticphilosophyinOxfordformanyyears.