Virtue and grace in the theology of Thomas Aquinas / Justin M. Anderson, Seton Hall University.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Anderson, Justin M., 1977- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Thomas, Aquinas, Saint, 1225?-1274.

Virtue--History of doctrines--Middle Ages, 600-1500.

Grace (Theology)--History of doctrines--Middle Ages, 600-1500.

Grace (Theology).

Virtue.

Grace (Theology)--History of doctrines.

Virtue--History of doctrines.

Physical Description:

xiii, 327 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2020.

Summary:

"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"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note: pt. I VIRTUE AND THE DEVELOPMENTS IN GRACE

1. A Brief Overview of the Thomistic Understanding of Virtue

1. The Essence of Thomistic Virtue

2. Virtues as Perfections of Powers

3. From Perfection of Powers to Kinds of Virtues

4. From Kinds of Virtues to Particular Virtues

5. Ends of the Virtues

6. Causes of the Virtues

7. Some Properties of Virtue

8. Conclusion

2. Analogous Language and Meanings

1. Aquinas's Language of Virtue

2. How Aquinas's Language Permits Multiple Meanings of Virtue

3. Schematizing the Various Meanings of Virtue

4. Hesitations and Advantages of Schematizing the Meanings of Virtue

5. Graced, Infused Virtue as Virtue Simpliciter

3. Historical Context of the Foundations of Virtue

1. New Conditions: A Set of Dual Discoveries

2. Shifts in Aquinas's Theology of Grace

3. On the Causes of the Shifts in the Necessity for Grace

pt. II THE CONDITIONS OF VIRTUE SIMPLICITER

4. The Conditions for the Beginning of Virtue Simpliciter

1. From Contextual Conclusions to Method

2. The Sources of Virtue Simpliciter

3. The First-Order Condition: The Beginning of Virtue Simpliciter

4. The Second-Order Condition: Possibility of Self-Preparation for Grace

5. Conclusions Regarding the Sources of Virtue Simpliciter

5. The Conditions for Perseverance in Virtue Simpliciter

1. The First-Order Condition: The Grace of Perseverance

2. The Second-Order Condition: Meriting the Grace of Perseverance

3. Conclusions Regarding Perseverance in Virtue Simpliciter

6. The Conditions for the End of Virtue Simpliciter

1. The First-Order Condition: Attainment of the End of Virtue Simpliciter

2. The Second-Order Condition: How One Attains the Light of Glory (or Human Action Revisited)

3. Conclusions Regarding the End of Virtue Simpliciter

4. General Conclusions Regarding the Conditions of Virtue Simpliciter

pt. III THE CONDITIONS OF VIRTUE SECUNDUM QUID

7. The Conditions for the Beginning of Virtue Secundum Quid

1. The Pagan, His Virtue, and Its Natural Sources

2. Pagan Virtue and the Process of Human Action

3. Conclusions Regarding the Sources of Pagan Virtue

8. The Conditions for Perseverance in Virtue Secundum Quid

1. The Corrupting Effects of Sin

2. The Various States of Human Nature

3. The Influence of Original and Actual Sin on Pagan Virtue

4. Perseverance in a Life of Pagan Virtue

5. Aquinas's Optimism Regarding the Virtuous Pagan

6. Conclusions Regarding Perseverance in Pagan Virtue

9. The End of Virtue Secundum Quid

1. Goodness: The Good as Desirable, and the Desirable as End

2. The Possibility of an Authentic, Natural End for Pagan Virtue

3. The Nature of Pagan Happiness

4. The End of Pagan Virtue as a Participatory Goodness

5. General Conclusions Regarding Pagan Virtue

pt. IV CONFIRMATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS

10. The Suitability of Thomas Aquinas's Definition of Virtue

1. Rival Definitions of Virtue in the Twelfth and Early Thirteenth Centuries

2. A Consistent Affirmation of Virtue

3. Aquinas's Explanations of the Definition of Virtue

4. Conclusion.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Online version: Anderson, Justin M., 1977- Virtue and grace in the theology of Thomas Aquinas

ISBN:

9781108485180

1108485189

9781108719247

1108719244

OCLC:

1121285669