5 stars (Better than the Oxford Blackfriars) - Of course, the Oxford Blackfriar's 60-volume edition would bankrupt most of us by it's sheer expense. But if one wants an English translation opposite the Latin original, it's certainly the reference work that many scholars prefer. For the rest of us, the English Dominican Fathers' translation of the early 20thC. is very, very good indeed. It's single virtue is that the same translation of words is used consistently throughout, even if the particular choice of words might not strike 21stC. readers in quite the same way. Some of the language is beginning to show its wear and tear, but once one is in the mindset, the reading is exceptionally clear. For those new to Aquinas, his methodology may strike some readers as odd. It's really a simple, yet elegant, system. First, Aquinas poses a question to be answered. Then he gives a variety of answers from others in the past. When you see, "but I reply," then you know you're getting to nugget of Aquinas' gems. After his reply, he responds to each of the previous author's opinions, stating why or how they are in any way deficient. Several features become instantly obvious. Aquinas had an encyclopedic mind and a good knowledge of Patristic and Aristotlean thought. Whenever possible, his answers are an a priori synthesis of the best Patristics and the best of Aristotle. These five, dense volumes in this edition illustrate the majestic scope of his enterprise. (His Summa Contra Gentiles is very similar.) There isn't really a subject or vantage that Aquinas doesn't cover. All his Summas are really magisterial (in the non-ecclesiastical sense). Lastly, Aquinas' command of the syllogism is unparalleled in human history. This is at once both its strength and its weakness. Strength in the sense of deductive logic, weakness in the sense of inductive logic. I'm convinced one can use the syllogism to argue just about anything, and if Aquinas is an example, he's an example of this mastery... Christian Classics :: Theology :: Doctrinal :: Spirituality - General :: Religion - Roman Catholic :: Religion :: Early works to 1800 :: Doctrines :: Christianity - Theology - Catholic :: :: St Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica (translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province) (5 Volu
4 stars (Good Book, worth owning) - I'm glad I bought this book, not only for it's historical significance, but also to be able to continuously refer back to it for refreshing. While I really enjoyed the first two chapters (also the longest), it started to get long-winded towards the end. This is still a very quick read and worth it's price. Two parts of the book bring up a sensitive subject (which I won't spoil) which surprisingly seemed to be a fairly common way of life for samurai. No, I'm not talking about ritual suicide, or some of their strong beliefs in honor and service, but instead something that 99% of us I'd wager never would associate with Samurai lifestyles. While unsettling, it's worthwhile learning the truths about their habits without over-glorification. Certainly a classic book which has the potential to enspire everyone to reach for their full potential. 3 stars (Hagakure for beginners) - As the title of my review suggests, I think this book makes a good introductory text for someone who doesn't have a lot of time to dedicate to studying bushido, someone who is just getting acclimated to the new way of thinking, or someone who is merely curious. The positives: -Each quotation is clearly titled and indexed, making it easy to find and reference specific quotes regarding specific topics. -Some translations have been changed to better accomodate the literal English-speaking reader. The negatives: -Short. It is only a small sampling of the wisdom of Hagakure. -While the modified translations will help English speakers avoid some of the pitfalls associated with reading from a different cultural context, they are also an incomplete and sometimes shallow understanding of the text. Again, as an introductory text this one is a good one. For a better, more complete translation of Hagakure, look for the one by William Scott Wilson. It is one of my favorite texts, though I will admit that when pressed for a quotation on short notice, I will still o... Square One Publishers :: Philosophy :: Mind & Body :: Martial Arts & Self-Defense :: Japanese Philosophy :: Ethics & Moral Philosophy :: Eastern - General :: Early works to 1800 :: Bushido :: :: Bushido- The Way of the Samurai (Square One Classics)
