Commentary on Thomas Aquinas's Treatise on Happiness and Ultimate Purpose

Description

This monumental, line-by-line commentary makes Thomas Aquinas's classic Treatise on Happiness and Ultimate Purpose accessible to all readers. Budziszewski illuminates arguments that even specialists find challenging: What is happiness? Is it something that we have, feel, or do? Does it lie in such things as wealth, power, fame, having friends, or knowing God? Can it actually be attained? This book's luminous prose makes Aquinas's treatise transparent, bringing to light profound underlying issues concerning knowledge, meaning, human psychology, and even the nature of reality.

J. Budziszewski studies the ethical foundations of law, society, and government. He has published numerous books on a variety of topics, most notably centered on the tradition of classical natural law and on Thomas Aquinas.

'Budziszewski's Commentary on Thomas Aquinas's Treatise on Happiness and Ultimate Purpose provides an in-depth, detailed, accessible, and comprehensive commentary on the Summa theologiae's questions on happiness. This commentary is a gem. It can be read with profit by philosophers, theologians, and intellectual historians, as well as by their students. If you are interested in Aquinas, want insight about happiness, or both, this book is for you.' Christopher Kaczor, author of The Gospel of Happiness and Thomas Aquinas on the Cardinal Virtues 'Excellent. Students, general readers, and professionals alike are sure to find this commentary on Aquinas tremendously useful given its clarity, erudition, attention to contemporary moral and philosophical concerns, and plain enjoyableness.' Edward Feser, Pasadena City College 'Professor Budziszewski is among the rare scholars who combine depth and erudition with a real flair for writing. No matter how dry or formidable one imagines Thomas Aquinas to be, his words come alive through the pen of Budziszewski. One sees with new eyes how amazingly pertinent Aquinas's questions are, how intriguing the puzzles with which he wrestles, and how sensible the answers at which he arrives regarding the meaning of life. This book will be a godsend for classroom study.' Matthew Levering, James N. and Mary D. Perry Jr, Chair of Theology, Mundelein Seminary '... immensely rich ... The notes and discussion as well as the line by line translation or 'simplification' of Thomas's work are extremely helpful. It must be emphasized that most of the book consists of Budziszewski's own painstaking commentary, examples, and simplification, as well as clarification of Aquinas's thought. The work is highly readable and it is strongly recommended.' Jesse Russell, The University Bookman