Summary of Summa Philosophica by Peter Kreeft

Introduction: Why This Book?

This is a book for beginners. A library of 110 short books.

It is always easy to complexify what is too simple, while it is much harder to simplify what it too complex.

Summary of the Summa article structure by giving its 4 Aristotelian causes:

1. The formal cause, or structure, of a Summa article can be summarized as follows. The “Article” is the basic thought-unit of the Summa, grouped into more general “Questions.” Each “Article” has 5 structural parts: First, Question formulated in a yes or no format, beginning with the word “Whether” (Utrum). Second, Number of Objections as apparent truth beginning with “It seems that” (Oportet). Third, St. Thomas indicates his own position with the formula “On the contrary” (Sed contra). This is not his strongest proof, but only a reminder that authoritative sources teach his position. Fourth, “I answer that” (Respondo dicens), is the body of the Article. Fifth, each Objection must be addressed and answered by explaining where and how the Objection went wrong.
2. The material cause, or content, can be anything. All the creativity comes here, in the matter; the form is rigid. The confining form actually liberates the content. This is a universal principle in the human arts. The Commandments are God’s fence to protect our play.
3. The efficient cause, the mind that makes this product, must possess certain qualities: [1] firm belief in objective truth & ability of human reason to know it; [2] love of form, order, structure; [3] conviction that question is important & to be treated with care, respect, accuracy; [4] conviction that logic is the very structure of reality, not a man-made method for winning arguments.
4. The final cause, or end, or good of the Summa Article is understanding.

Some points I found interesting:

Q.1.5. Philosophy is necessary to educate our essential humanity, for both the questions of philosophy (such as “Why do I exist?” and “What is good?”) and the instruments used by philosophy, reason, are essential to our humanity.

Q.2.1. Metaphysics goes “beyond physics” not by dealing only with non-physical realities but by dealing with questions about all of reality, or “being qua being.” Metaphysics explores the necessary foundations of all human knowledge and the truths or principles that hold true for all objects of human knowledge.

Q.2.3. Metaphysics explores not only what things are but the fact that they are ~ Heidegger.

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