I. The Summa theologica of St. Thomas. II. Specimen pages from the Summa.

I. The Summa theologica of St. Thomas. II. Specimen pages from the Summa.

Author: Kennedy, Daniel Joseph, 1862-

Year: 1915

"Summa Thcologica is, broadly speaking, a compendium, summary, or manual of theology. There is not in the English language an exact equivalent of the Latin word Summa as it was used by medieval writers. Perhaps the words 'Complete Manual' would convey best to people using our language the idea which was in the minds of those who invented the Latin term. We always think of a compendium, or summary, as of a book, or Excerpta, in which many things are omitted, some of these being either necessary or important. In a Summa there must be no such omissions. Things may be left out which properly would find a place only in a complete elucidation and development of a subject considered in all its aspects ; but the Summa must contain a statement, explanation and proof of all that is necessary for the comprehension of the subject as a whole and in all its essential parts. Some latitude is allowed in the choice of divisions, arguments and illustrations." Digitized by Google.