Virtue and Grace in the Theology of Thomas Aquinas

by Justin M. Anderson

Overview

Throughout his writings, Thomas Aquinas exhibited a remarkable stability of thought. However, in some areas such as his theology of grace, his thought underwent titanic developments. In this book, Justin M. Anderson traces both those developments in grace and their causes. After introducing the various meanings of virtue Aquinas utilized, including 'virtue in its fullest sense' and various forms of 'qualified virtue', he explores the historical context that conditioned that account. Through a close analysis of his writings, Anderson unearths Aquinas's own discoveries and analyses that would propel his understanding of human experience, divine action, and supernatural grace in new directions. In the end, we discover an account of virtue that is inextricably linked to his developed understanding of sin, grace and divine action in human life. As such, Anderson challenges the received understanding of Aquinas's account of virtue, as well as his relationship to contemporary virtue ethics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781108485180
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	07/30/2020
Pages:	341
Product dimensions:	6.22(w) x 9.29(h) x 1.06(d)

About the Author

Justin M. Anderson is associate professor at Seton Hall University, New Jersey and co-author of Pursuing the Honorable: Reawakening Honor in the Modern Military (with Kenneth W. McDonald, 2019).

Table of Contents

Introduction; Part I. Virtue and the Developments in Grace: 1. A brief overview of the Thomistic conception of virtue; 2. Analogous language and meanings; 3. Historical context of the foundations of virtue; Part II. The Conditions of Virtue Simpliciter: 4. The conditions for the beginning of virtue simpliciter; 5. The conditions for perseverance in virtue simpliciter; 6. The conditions for the end of virtue simpliciter; Part III. The Conditions of Virtue Secundum Quid: 7. The conditions for the beginning of virtue secundum quid; 8. The conditions for perseverance in virtue secundum quid; 9. The end of virtue secundum quid; Part IV. Confirmations and Conclusions: 10. The suitability of Thomas Aquinas's definition of virtue; Selected works cited; Index.

Editorial Reviews

'… this book is remarkable for its historical depth, and provocative in some of its conclusions.' David Elliot, The Thomist

‘It is rare to have the pleasure of reviewing a book as well argued and well researched as [this] … This monograph significantly impacts how we understand Aquinas’ theory of virtue.’ K. Lauriston Smith, Reading Religion

From the Publisher