Thomas Aquinas: Understand the Universal Teacher's Greatest Ideas

By: Eleonore Stump

Narrated by: Eleonore Stump

This course will have a profound impact on your faith and thinking. Thomas Aquinas, OP (1225-1274), is one of world history's most influential thinkers. His works indelibly shaped Western thought and Christian belief, and his brilliant ideas continue to resonate in universities and churches everywhere. But his complex thought can often seem inaccessible.

In this superb course, taught by an internationally known Aquinas expert, you will tour his towering thought while gaining powerful insights into your faith and values. You will cover his ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophical theology. Under Prof. Stump's guidance, you will see the world through his eyes.

You will begin with an introduction to Aquinas' ethics in order to explore his views on human flourishing and morality. Then you will gain tremendous insights into his metaphysics, which engage with the nature of ultimate reality, God's eternity, and much more. After looking at his philosophy of free will, you will explore his epistemology. Finally, you will encounter his complex and fascinating philosophical theology. Along the way Prof. Stump will guide you through complex philosophical concepts with deft and easy-to-understand teaching.

Although he died young, it is impossible to overestimate Aquinas' influence on Western philosophy. His thought remains as relevant today as ever. You don't want to miss this enlightening journey through the thought of one of the great intellectual giants of the Christian tradition.

This course is part of the Learn25 collection and includes a free PDF study guide.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2016 Now You Know Media Inc. (P)2016 Now You Know Media Inc.

Critic reviews

"Eleonore Stump is arguably one of the most influential philosophers of religion in the world today. She has also made significant contributions in contemporary metaphysics and Medieval Philosophy. In her most recent work in theodicy, she has not only widened the parameters of legitimate philosophical discussion, she has enriched it by the use of second person analogy thus transforming from an abstract and formal theodicy into a profoundly personal theodicy. Both as teacher and scholar, she has impacted the discipline significantly and her writings point to her scholarly and philosophical impact for generations to follow." (Theodore R. Vitali CP, chair of philosophy, Saint Louis University)

"There is no question that Dr. Eleonore Stump is among the brightest of minds and gentlest of hearts. Her writings on how human suffering and divine tenderness coexist have changed the philosophical landscape forever. In this lecture series, she brings her careful thought to the writings of Thomas Aquinas, allowing him to speak to us anew." (Fr. David Meconi, SJ, professor of historical theology, Saint Louis University)

"One would be hard put to find someone more knowledgeable about the thought of Thomas Aquinas than Professor Eleonore Stump and someone more able to make his thought accessible. She is widely acclaimed by students as an excellent teacher. Her scholarship is recognized world wide." (Donald Goergen, OP, PhD, senior fellow, Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, Missouri)

I use this in my college philosophy courses

I teach an introductory philosophy course at a Jesuit university, and for several years now I have had students listen to this audiobook. They love it. My only complaint is that the chapter on Divine Simplicity is pretty problematic and simplistic.
Professor Stump provides a complete Introduction to Christianity from the Thomistic Perspective. She begins with ethics and its relation to the Holy Spirit, then covers metaphysics (including a brilliant treatment of the free will problem), divine eternity, epistemology, and finally Aquinas's theories of the Incarnation and Atonement. Most excellent.

Erudite and engaging

This audio course is truly outstanding. Although I have a long-term interest in intellectual history, I've been a bit intimidated by Aquinas. Professor Stump makes his most important ideas clear and accessible. In her course, I encountered a great mind and his profound grappling with the big ideas of philosophy, faith life. Each lecture was thoughtful & well-delivered. I highly recommend this series to anyone interested in these big ideas.

Thank you

This book opens me to God’s gifts of magnanimity and courage.
Trying to learn more of it in God’s grace.

Wonderful

I greatly enjoyed and benefited from this series of talks on the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas. Professor Stump is a wonderful teacher. In these lectures you will get an expert introduction to the philosophical theology of St. Thomas. The most delightful surprise, for me, was finding the lectures very spiritually helpful. I listened to several of the talks more than once because they were so insightful. I've listened to several sets of lectures on a variety of subjects and this is one of the very best. Having heard the whole thing through once I'm tempted just to listen again from the beginning.

Great!

Probably one of the best series I’ve listen to. And I’ve listened to a bunch.

Illuminating and beautiful

Certainly not exhaustive, but illuminating and beautiful. I would love to hear more from Prof Stump.

Good for your intellect, good for your soul

Loved these lectures.

I've been studying the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas and the Thomistic tradition, and this is THE clearest exposition of his whole thinking that I've found so far. I read Ed Feser, I watched videos by the Thomistic Institute, and read parts of the Summa. So over time I got familiar with some of Thomas Aquinas' thinking, with bits and pieces. But what Prof. Stump does, and does masterfully, is a presentation of how Thomas Aquinas' ideas are connected in a coherent whole. Beautiful.

Prof. Stump's narration is precise yet warm, I thoroughly enjoyed it, hearing her cadence and her voice somehow brought joy to my heart. I never thought this could happen when listening an audiobook about philosophy.

I also said in the title of my review that this book is good for the soul. That is because as a Catholic these lectures helped me so much in understanding and deepening my Faith.

Highly recommended to any student of philosophy and to any Catholic, really accessible presentation of very deep ideas.