DOMINICAN INSTITUTE
IBADAN
2nd Semester 2011/12
PHI 206 Introduction to the Philosophy of Thomas Aquinas
Wednesdays, 8.15-10.55 a.m.
Fr. Anthony Akinwale, O.P.
Course Description
The course aims at forming the student to read, interpret and apply the philosophy
contained in the writings of Thomas Aquinas. To prepare the student for this exercise,
the first part of the course will be devoted to the history, context, style and language of
Aquinas. The second part will involve reading a selection of Aquinas’ writings.
Requirements
Class attendance and participation
Regular class attendance and intelligent participation in class discussions help the student
to grasp the contents of the course. Intelligent participation in class discussion demands
reading of the text assigned for discussion on each session.
An essay
Each student will be required to write an essay which will account for 25% of the final
grade. The essay is to be written on one of the following texts of Aquinas:
(i) Disputed Question on Truth, a. 1
(ii) Disputed Question on Evil, a. 6
(iii)Commentary on the De Trinitate of Boethius, q. 1
(iv) Commentary on the De Trinitate of Boethius, q. 2
(v) Commentary on the De Trinitate of Boethius, q. 5
(vi) Commentary on the De Trinitate of Boethius, q. 6
The essay is to be typed double spacing in 8-10 pages on a size A4 paper, using font size
12. Margins should be 1.5 inches on the left, and 1 inch on the top, right and bottom of
the page. Footnotes, not endnotes, are to be used. The 8-10 pages do not include the
cover page which is to be designed according to DI specification. Each student is to be
identified by his/her matriculation number. The essay is to be submitted on or before the
day of the last lecture. Submission as and when due is prerequisite for writing final
examination.
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Final examination
The final exam will account for 70% of the final grade
Bibliography
M.-D. Chenu, Towards Understanding St Thomas. Trans. A.-M. Landry and D. Hughes
(Chicago: HenryRegnery Company, 1964)
Anthony Kenny, Aquinas on Mind (London and New York: Routledge, 1993)
Joseph Kenny, La philosophie du monde arabe (Kinshasa: FCK, 1994)
Fergus Ker, After Aquinas: Versions of Thomism (Malden, MA: Blackwell, 2002)
Norman Kretzman and Eleonore Stump, eds, The Cambridge Companion to Aquinas
(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993)
Aidan Nichols, Discovering Aquinas: An Introduction to His Life, Work, and Influence
(Grand Rapids, MI/Cambridge, UK: William B. Eedemans, 2002)
Thomas O’Meara, Thomas Aquinas Theologian (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame
Press, 1997)
Anton Pegis, ed., Introduction to St Thomas Aquinas (New York: The Modern Library,
1948)
Jean-Pierre Torrell, St Thomas Aquinas: Trans. Robert Royal
Vol. 1 The Person and his Work (Washington: CUA Press, 1996)
Vol. 2 Spiritual Master (Washington: CUA Press, 2003)
_______________ “Saint Thomas et l’histoire: etat de la question et pistes de recherché”
in Revue Thomiste 55 3 (2005) 355-409
James Weisheipl, Friar Thomas D’Aquino: His Life, Thought and Works (Washington,
DC: CUA Press, 1974)
Schedule of Readings
February 29
Introduction
March 7
Leo XIII, Aeterni Patri. On the Restauration of Christian Philosophy
According to the Mind of St Thomas Aquinas
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March 14
Jean Pierre Torrell, St Thomas Aquinas, vol. 1, chs I-IV
March 21
Jean Pierre Torrell, St Thomas Aquinas, vol. 1, chs V-VIII
March 28
Jean Pierre Torrell, St Thomas Aquinas, vol. 1, chs IX-XII
EASTER BREAK
April 11
Jean Pierre Torrell, St Thomas Aquinas, vol. 1, chs XIII-XVI
April 18
M.-D. Chenu, Toward Understanding Saint Thomas, chs II-III
April 25
M.-D. Chenu, Toward Understanding Saint Thomas, chs IV-V
May 2
Anton Pegis, Introduction to St Thomas Aquinas, xi-xxx; Aidan Nichols,
Discovering Aquinas, chs 9 and 10
May 9
Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, I, qq. 3-4
May 16
Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, I, qq. 5-6
May 30
Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, qq. I, 15-17
June 6
Thomas Aquinas, Summa theologiae, qq. I, 19, 22 and 25
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