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Concise historical introduction to Aquinas and his continuing influence on the world and how we see it.
Thomas Aquinas: A very brief history is part of SPCK’s exciting new Very Brief Histories series, an exciting new collection of books about some of the key figures of world history.
Part One: The History (What do we know?)
This brief historical introduction to Aquinas assesses his impact on the world as it was at the time and outlines the key ideas and values connected with him. It explores the social, political and religious factors that formed the context of his life and writings, and considers how those factors affected the way he was initially received.
Part Two: The Legacy (Why does it matter?)
This second part surveys the intellectual and cultural ‘afterlife’ of Aquinas, exploring the ways in which his impact has lasted. Why does he continue to be so influential, and what aspects of his legacy are likely to endure beyond today and into the future?
The book has a brief chronology at the front plus a glossary of key terms and a list of further reading at the back.
Brian Davies is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Fordham University, New York. His most recent books include Thomas Aquinas’s ‘Summa Theologiae’: A guide and commentary , Thomas Aquinas’s ‘Summa Contra Gentiles’: A guide and commentary and The Oxford Handbook of Aquinas.
