Aquinas on Metaphysics

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XIV

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2. Preliminaries

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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   2. Literary and Chronological Aspects of the Commentary

      • James C. Doig

      Pages 3-22

   3. The Metaphysical Views of Avicenna, Averroes, and Albert

      • James C. Doig

      Pages 23-54

   4. The Prooemium to Aquinas’ Commentary

      • James C. Doig

      Pages 55-94

3. Part Two

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 95-97

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   2. The Object of Metaphysics

      • James C. Doig

      Pages 99-171

   3. The Relation of Metaphysics to the Other Sciences

      • James C. Doig

      Pages 172-238

   4. The Method of Metaphysics

      • James C. Doig

      Pages 239-340

4. Part Three

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 341-341

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   2. The Basic Insight of Aquinas’ Commentary

      • James C. Doig

      Pages 343-382

5. Conclusion

   1. Conclusion

      • James C. Doig

      Pages 383-386

6. Back Matter

   Pages 387-417

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Thomas Aquinas' Commentary on the Metaphysics has long been con­ sidered by many as one of the most interesting, most rewarding of all his works. Yet strangely enough, there has been no extensive study of this work, at least none that has ever reached print. It is in the hope of partially filling this gap in medieval research that the present study of the metaphysical system of the Commentary was conceived. However, the discussion of the Commentary's metaphysics must simultaneously be an investigation into the reasons which motivated Aquinas in the composition of his work. Did he wish to expose only the theories of Aristotle, or did he simultaneously intend to present his own metaphysical views? Obviously, we must learn the answer to this before we can proceed to disentangle the metaphysical system, or systems, operative in Aquinas' Commentary. Up to the present day this problem, the nature of Aquinas' exposition has not been answered in a manner acceptable to all. Generally speak­ ing, three theories have been advanced. A first one would see the 1 Commentary as an objective exposition of Aristotle. A second opinion views Aquinas' exposition as an attempt to express his own personal 2 theories on metaphysics. And finally, the third view divides within the Commentary paragraphs containing Aquinas' personal thought ...

• Aristotle
• Medieval Literature
• chronology
• composition
• concept
• idea
• identity
• knowledge
• metaphysics
• object
• philosophy
• physics
• science

• Clayton Junior College, USA

  James C. Doig

Policies and ethics