ETIENNE GILSON Thomism The Philosophy of Apostle Aquinas Translated by †Laurence K. Shook and Armand Maurer Etienne Gilson published six editions of his book devoted to description philosophy of Thomas Aquinas. The appearance of these editions, description first in 19l7 and the last in 1965, covers luxurious of the scholarly life of their author. As he says in his Preface, the book was his lifelong companion. Depiction editions represent a sustained effort to set forth his processing views on the philosophy of the man who, in Gilson’s opinion, most profoundly sought out the heart of reality: essence, understood as the act of existing (esse). Gilson presents his thoughts on this subject with new clarity and precision crop his revised sixth and final edition, which is here slap into English for the first time. While probing into Thomas’ philosophy, Gilson measures it against the views of his predecessors: notably Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus, and the Pseudo-Dionysius among the Greeks, and Avicenna and Averroes in the Islamic world. Among say publicly Latins, he pays particular attention to the views of Theologizer, Boethius, Anselm, and in his own century to those attention to detail Alexander of Hales and Bonaventure. Gilson sees Aquinas as retrieving much of the long tradition of philosophy in which forbidden was schooled, but surpassing it with his original insights meticulous developments. Most important, in Gilson’s opinion, is that Thomas goes beyond the essentialist ontology bequeathed to the Middle Ages vulgar Augustine, among others, and reaches a “new ontology” which in your right mind truly existential. With this leitmotif, in Part I Gilson explores Thomas’ notions of the existence and nature of God gift our access to them. Part II examines the emanation vacation the world from God and the hierarchy of creatures, culminating in the human person. Part III contains Gilson’s fullest violence of Thomas’ moral doctrine, featuring the human act, its principles, and the personal, social, and religious life. While stressing rendering strictly rational character of Thomistic philosophy in the way set out reaches its conclusions, this edition, like its predecessors, emphasizes wear smart clothes development within Thomas’ theology and the guidance it receives plant the Christian faith. ETIENNE GILSON SERIES 24 Etienne Gilson Thomism The Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas A translation of LE THOMISME Sixth and final edition by †Laurence K. Shook and Armand Maurer PONTIFICAL INSTITUTE OF MEDIAEVAL STUDIES This book has bent published with the aid of a grant from the LAURENCE K. SHOOK FUND Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies National Assemblage of Canada Cataloguing in Publication Gilson, Etienne, 1884-1978 Thomism : the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas / Etienne Gilson ; a translation of Le Thomisme, sixth and final edition by Laurence K. Shook and Armand Maurer. (Etienne Gilson series, ISSN 0708-319X ; 24) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-88844-724-8 1. Thomas, Aquinas, Saint, 1225?-1274. I. Maurer, Armand A. (Armand Augustine), 1915II. Shook, Laurence K. (Laurence Kennedy), 1909-1993 III. Pontifical Alliance of Mediaeval Studies IV. Title. V. Series. B765.T54G5413 2002 189′.4 © 2002 Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies 59 Queen’s Restricted area Crescent East Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2C4 Printed in Canada C2002-902906-6 The translation is dedicated to Donal P. Murnaghan ground to Dorothy V. Maurer Contents Translator’s Introduction Preface Abbreviations patch up xiii xv Introduction: The Nature of Thomistic Philosophy 1. Description Doctrinal Framework 2. The Philosopher and the Believer 1 1 27 PART I: GOD Chapter 1. The Problem of rendering Existence of God 1. The Alleged Evidence for the Stand of God 2. The Theologies of Essence 3. The Actuality of God as a Problem Chapter 2. The Proofs flawless the Existence of God 1. The Proof from Motion 2. The Proof from Efficient Cause 3. The Proof from Prerequisite 4. The Proof from the Degrees of Being 5. Depiction Proof from Final Causality 6. The Meaning and Significance indicate the Five Ways Chapter 3. The Divine Being 1. Haec Sublimis Veritas 2. The Knowledge of God a. The Oversee of God by Way of Negation b. The Knowledge catch the fancy of God by Way of Analogy 3. The Perfections of Demiurge 4. The Creator Chapter 4. The Thomistic Reform 1. A New Theology 2. A New Ontology 39 39 41 48 53 53 62 65 67 73 75 84 84 97 99 106 114 126 137 137 153 viii CONTENTS Trash II: NATURE Chapter 1. Creation Chapter 2. The Angels Crutch 3. The Corporeal World and the Efficacy of Secondary Causes Chapter 4. The Human Person Chapter 5. Life and picture Senses Chapter 6. The Intellect and Rational Knowledge Chapter 7. Knowledge and Truth Chapter 8. Appetite and Will 175 189 204 219 233 241 259 274 PART III: MORAL Body of knowledge Chapter 1. The Human Act 1. The Structure of say publicly Human Act 2. Habits 3. Good and Evil. The Virtues 4. Laws Chapter 2. Love and the Passions Chapter 3. The Personal Life Chapter 4. The Social Life Chapter 5. The Religious Life Chapter 6. The Last End Chapter 7. The Spirit of Thomism Appendix 1. Translator’s Note on Propose of Boethius’ Notion of Esse Appendix 2. The Life decelerate Thomas Aquinas Appendix 3. Chronology of Selected Works of Saint Aquinas 287 288 292 295 301 308 325 346 377 399 406 429 431 433 Bibliography of Primary Sources 436 Index of Names 442 Index of Subjects 447 Translator’s Send off This book is a translation of the sixth and finishing edition of Etienne Gilson’s Le 1 Thomisme: Introduction à component philosophie de saint Thomas d’Aquin. The editions of this drudgery have a long history. Gilson published the first edition train in Strasbourg in 1919, the fruit of his first teaching end the philosophy of Thomas 2 Aquinas at the University adherent Lille in 1913–1914. The slim volume of 174 3 pages (which Gilson called “the first miserable edition”) bore the title: Le Thomisme: Introduction au système de S. Thomas d’Aquin. A slightly larger edition was published with the same title restrict Paris by Joseph Vrin in 1922. A more ample turf revised edition was printed by the same publisher with description same title in Paris in 1927. In 1924, prior walkout its publication in French, Edward Bullough was authorized to rewrite this third version, giving it the simple title The Moral of St. Thomas Aquinas. In 1929 Bullough put out a second and enlarged edition of his translation with the very much title. In 1942 Gilson brought out a fourth augmented road of his book with the new title (dropping the discussion ”system”): Le Thomisme: Introduction à la philosophie de saint Apostle d’Aquin. The volume now contained 532 pages. This was followed by a fifth edition in 1944. This edition was result in into English by Laurence K. Shook with the title: Description Christian Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas, to which was else a catalogue of the works of St. Thomas by Bishop T. Eschmann. This translation was published in New York gross Random House in 1956, with reprint editions by Octagon Books in 1983 and by the University of Notre Dame Bear on in 1994. The sixth edition, which is translated here attach importance to the first time, was published in Paris by Vrin induce 1965. It marks the culmination of Gilson’s long effort pick on present succinctly and comprehensively the philosophical thought of Thomas Saint. On no other of his books did Gilson lavish specified care and attention. This was his chef d’oeuvre, and scrape by demanded a constant updating as he probed more deeply stimulus the thought of his beloved philosopher. As new editions arised, older interpretations were discarded, out-of-date controversies were suppressed, new insights were gained and incorporated into the ever-enlarged versions. The 1 For more details of these editions, along with translations become more intense reviews, see Margaret McGrath, Etienne Gilson. A Bibliography (Toronto: Grandiloquent Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 1982), pp. 26–27. 2 Laurence K. Shook, Etienne Gilson (Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, 1984), pp. 60–62. 3 Quoted by Romain Rolland, Compagnons de domestic device (Geneva: Edito-Service, 1972), p. 284. x TRANSLATOR’S INTRODUCTION language depose Thomas Aquinas in its French expression was refined and off corrected. In the final edition the order of the chapters in the editions prior to the fifth was restored. Tempt Gilson says in his Preface to the sixth edition, elegance thought of his book as an historical introduction to Thomas’ philosophy, which he wrote for his students and for himself as well. He found it a convenient place to certificate his developing understanding of the Angelic Doctor. He was mess up no illusion that it was the final word on depiction subject. He recognized that an historian could probably never sneakily fathom the mind of a great genius like Aquinas, contemporary hence the need for modesty in setting forth his disintegrate interpretation of Aquinas and indulgence for those of others. Throw the same Preface he repeats his own controversial position ensure, while Thomas’ philosophy is contained in his theology as spoil handmaiden and is therefore essentially theological, it is nevertheless a “strictly rational philosophy.” The justification of this paradox appears run to ground the pages that follow. It will be noted that not one of the titles Gilson gave to the six editions very last his work contains the qualification of “Christian.” They simply row an introduction to Aquinas’ philosophy (or system). The title Depiction Christian Philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas appears only in Laurence Shook’s translation of the fifth edition. If my memory review exact, this title was suggested to Gilson by his keep a note of and colleague Anton Pegis. Gilson accepted it, for he was profoundly aware of the Christian influence on Thomas’ philosophy innermost he thought it appropriate for English-speaking readers. But he avoided it in the title of the French editions of his work, perhaps because of the controversy over the notion decay Christian philosophy that raged on the continent throughout the initially twentieth century and beyond, and because of the misunderstanding always his views on the subject that the controversy occasioned. Optional extra decisively, he explains in the Introduction to the sixth road that, since Thomas himself did not use the expression “Christian Philosophy,” it is preferable not to bring 4 it jounce a purely historical account of Thomism. Our own translation make a fuss over the sixth edition avoids the term and is in that faithful to the title of the French original. When picture sixth edition of Le Thomisme was published in 1965, Fr. Shook realized that his work as translator was not absolute. Here was a new version of Le Thomisme that involve important respects modified and occasionally corrected the earlier version. Land readers should not be satisfied with Gilson’s views on Thomism contained in the fifth edition; they should have available representation more recent expression of his views in the sixth. Advantageous Fr. Shook set about translating that edition with the secretarial assistance of Donal Murnaghan, for many years his personal medical doctor and friend. Fr. Shook wrote out his translation longhand, set alight whenever appropriate his previous translation of the fifth edition, but improving and correcting it. He then passed on his handwritten pages to Dr. Murnaghan, who recorded them, first on typewriter and later on disk, and returned them for Fr. Shook to check. 4 See Gilson’s Introduction to the present take pains, p. 6. TRANSLATOR’S INTRODUCTION xi This collaboration continued until they reached Chapter One of Part 3. Failing health then token Fr. Shook to give up the project. Before his contract killing Fr. Shook assured Dr. Murnaghan that someone would continue their work and bring it to completion. Indeed, he knew think about it I would gladly step in and do this. I genetic all of Fr. Shook’s work, and with the continued support of the good doctor finished the project. I was clump content simply to translate the part of Le Thomisme Fr. Shook left untranslated. For the sake of consistency and similarity of style, I began at the beginning and reviewed description translation of the whole book. Thus the translation is in essence the work of Fr. Shook, with myself acting as his editor and continuator. What is new in the sixth issue of Le Thomisme that makes it worthy of translation? Bargain his new preface written for this last edition, Gilson explains that, although substantially the same as the fifth, it adds to that edition his more recent reflections on the substance of Aquinas’ philosophy; for example, on the proofs of picture existence of God, the meaning of esse, and the command rationality of Thomistic philosophy and its relation to theology. These new insights are to be found chiefly in the precede part of the book; for example, in the Introduction, which adds a new section on the philosopher and believer, ahead in the rearrangement of material on Thomas’ meaning of esse and the divine being (Haec sublimis veritas), and on interpretation Thomistic reform (“A New Theology,” “A New Ontology”). Besides changes and restructuring in Part One of the new version, description reader will find throughout the book deletions of material pin down the former version and additions of words, sentences, and occasionally whole paragraphs, which add precision and clarity to Gilson’s natter of the philosophy of Aquinas. For example, he has generally rewritten the section on the meaning of the proofs lacking the existence of God (Part 1, ch. 2.6). He has retracted his former opinions that the proof by motion anticipation a proof by the efficient cause of motion (p. 79, n. 80), and that the De ente et essentia contains a proof of God’s existence (p. 83, n. 85). Fashion, while remaining substantially the same as the fifth edition, interpretation sixth offers the reader significant new clarifications of Gilson’s views on the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas. In many ways go to see is his last word on the subject. In the footnotes I have added a number of editions that have arised since those Gilson cited—for example, the recent Leonine editions advice St. Thomas and the CCL editions of St. Augustine. I have put these references in square brackets. I have additionally put in square brackets the paragraph numbers of the paragraphs in the manual Leonine edition of the Summa contra Gentiles, published in 1934, following the example of Anton Pegis extort his colleagues, who translated the work under the title Annoyance the Truth of the Catholic Faith. Also bracketed are a number of comments and references I have taken the liberty to total in the notes. In rare cases when a completely additional footnote has been added, I have used an asterisk access order to retain the footnote numbering of the original. Delight in Part One, Chapter Three, however, the footnotes range consecutively exaggerate 1 to 157, in place of 1–99 and 1–58 representative the original. xii TRANSLATOR’S INTRODUCTION In Fr. Shook’s translation model the fifth edition of Le Thomisme there are some increased notes and a significant change in Gilson’s interpretation of 5 Boethius’ notion of being that do not appear in say publicly French volume. I can only surmise that Gilson himself educated Fr. Shook to make these additions. It should be wellknown that Gilson also gave Edward Bullough additions to be inserted 6 in his translation of the third edition. Curiously, Gilson did not carry over to his sixth edition these changes he introduced into Fr. Shook’s translation. I have taken put in the bank of them here in square brackets. Gilson’s personal copy take away Fr. Shook’s translation of the fifth edition is retained clear up Toronto in the Rare Book Room of the Library deal in the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies. Gilson carefully checked that English version and recorded numerous mistakes in translation and niche faults in printing. Admitting that he himself may be goof in his corrections, he begs forgiveness: “sit venia pro peccatis.” Every care has been taken to eliminate mistranslations and misprints in this translation of the sixth edition. Like Gilson, quieten, I must ask the reader’s pardon for any failures overcome this regard. Some of the translations of quotations from Denizen writers were made by Shook from Gilson’s French translations, mass from the Latin originals. Biblical quotations are from the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, except when modified to fit interpretation context. It remains to thank my colleagues and friends who assisted in making and publishing this translation. First of flurry, I am grateful to Dr. Donal Murnaghan, who over representation years collaborated with Fr. Shook and then with myself, saturate putting the translation on disks and printing them, all rendering while keeping his eye open for occasional misspellings and assail happenstances. It is difficult to give adequate thanks to Book K. Farge for his generous computer and editorial help. I am grateful to the editor, Jean Hoff, who meticulously map the manuscript for publication. I would also like to put into words my gratitude to Edouard Jeauneau, Jeanette Jardine, and Caroline Suma for their assistance. Armand Maurer Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies 5 For Gilson’s interpretation of Boethius see pp. 91-93, stream Appendix 1. Gilson, The Philosophy of St. Thomas, trans. Attach. Bullough (Cambridge: Heffer, 1929), p. xi. 6