Elements of Philosophy [Paperback]

This book is quite possibly the best overview of Thomistic philosophy available today. In a relatively short space nearly all aspects of philosophy are covered in detail, including an outline of the discipline, philosophy of various related fields (ie, philosophy of science, etc), and a history of philosophy.

The book draws its authority from the New Catholic Encyclopaedia, as the book is a condensed version of the philosophy articles contained in the encyclopaedia. Wallace was editor of philosophy in the encyclopedia, and thus well placed to accomplish this task of synthesis.

The book is dense, and rightly so - the scope of the material is staggering. Wallace eases the burden on the reader by providing references to the appropriate articles in the encyclopaedia, where each portion of the book is treated at greater length.

It is difficult to over-state the importance of this book for any Thomist, Aristotelian, or Catholic working in philosophy or theology. It should occupy a prominent place on the shelves of anyone who values precision and depth of thought.

Just reading a thumbnail biography of Fr. William A. Wallace is enough to make most of us feel a bit indolent. Born in 1918, he graduated in 1940 from Manhattan College in New York and served for five years as a line officer in the United States Navy during World War II with a specialty in underwater ordinance and mine warfare. He received the Bronze Star and Legion of Merit medals for exceptionally meritorious service. In 1946 he became a Dominican novice and proceeded to receive advanced degrees from The Catholic University of America, M.S. (Physics) , The Dominican House of Studies, S.T.B. and S.T.L., and The University of Fribourg, Ph.D. (Philosophy) and Th.D. (Theology). He was Professor Emeritus of Philosophy and History at Catholic University of America and Adjunct Professor of Philosophy at the University of Maryland and also served as Director General of the Leonine Commission from 1976 to 1987. He published fifteen books and over three hundred scholarly articles, many of which are concerned with the philosophy of modern science and the history of science from Albert the Great and Aquinas to Galileo.

In "The Elements of Philosophy", Fr. Wallace has assembled an outstanding compendium of Thomistic philosophy. I can't stress enough how helpful this book was - and is - in negotiating the basics of philosophy for the aspiring Thomist. Thick, rich, and chewy, this work was created to be an annotated syllabus for instructors and the students preparing for the seminary. In Fr. Wallace's own words from his preface:

"...the years following Vatican II have seen a steady decline in the number and quality of philosophy courses taught in Catholic colleges and seminaries... as a consequence difficult material is not being taught, nor are students expected to gain a comprehension of matters that previously would have been regarded as "scientia debita" in their discipline... [this book then is] a primer, an elementary presentation of the main teachings of philosophy."

In my opinion, this work can also serve laymen "careful" and "troubled about many things" who've not "chosen the best part" (Luk 10:41-42) and wish to remedy that in some small way. Fr. Wallace has copious and exact (vol/pg/ppg) reference notes to the New Catholic Encyclopedia but, unfortunately, it is to the hard to find 1967 1st edition, not the more available 2003 2nd edition; however with a little extra searching, the reader can locate topics referenced in the 2nd edition easily enough. My only regret with this volume is not having found it sooner and having the benefit of Fr. Wallace's teaching before taking on St. Thomas and Fr. Lagrange - but I was planning on going back over them anyway, so this book has been a great help.

The Analytical Table of Contents shows the organization and topics covered:

1. Introduction

Part I Systematic Philosophy: Basic Disciplines
2. Logic - Formal Logic, Material Logic,
3. Natural Philosophy
4. Psychology
5. Metaphysics
6. Epistemology
7. Natural Theology
8. Ethics

Part II Systematic Philosophy: Special Disciplines
9. Philosophy of Humanities
10. Philosophy of Mathematics
11. Philosophy of the Natural Sciences
12. Philosophy of the Behavioral Sciences
13. Social Philosophy
14. Political Philosophy

Part III
15. History of Philosophy
16. Ancient Philosophy
17. Medieval Philosophy
18. Modern Philosophy
19. Contemporary Philosophy

I heartily recommend this work for anyone seeking a jumping off point into Philosophy in general and Thomism in particular. It's surprisingly readable given the subject matter, and I think will serve not only as primer but also as a reference when taking on substantial Thomistic works.

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