S. Thomae Aquinatis Summa Totius Theologiae (Summa Theologica).

"One of the classics of the history of philosophy and one of the most influential works of Western literature"; Rare 17th century example of Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica

S. Thomae Aquinatis Summa Totius Theologiae (Summa Theologica).

AQUINAS, Thomas.

Item Number: 90392

Ex Officina Guilielmi Riverii: Atrebati [Arras, France], 1610.

Rare 17th century example of Thomas Aquinas’ “most perfect work, the fruit of his mature years, in which the thought of his whole life is condensed.” Folio, bound in full period calf with elaborate tooling to the front and rear panels, red morocc spine label lettered in gilt, raised bands to the spine, woodcut printers device to the title page, woodcut initials, title vignettes, head and tail pieces. Printed in double columns with marginal notes and double lines. Contains the three parts of the Summa theologica, followed by the Supplement as well as the indexes. In very good condition. A desirable example of this important and influential work.

One of the most influential works of Western literature, the Summa of Aquinas was first published in 1485 as an instructional guide for theology students, including seminarians and the literate laity. A compendium of all of the main theological teachings of the Catholic Church, it presents the reasoning for almost all points of Christian theology in the West. Aquinas conceived the Summa specifically as a work suited to beginning students: "Because a doctor of catholic truth ought not only to teach the proficient, but to him pertains also to instruct beginners. As the Apostle says in 1 Corinthians 3: 1–2, as to infants in Christ, I gave you milk to drink, not meat, our proposed intention in this work is to convey those things that pertain to the Christian religion, in a way that is fitting to the instruction of beginners." Not only has the Summa Theologiae been one of the main intellectual inspirations for Thomistic philosophy, but it also had such a great influence on Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy, that Dante's epic poem has been called "the Summa in verse."

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