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To Know the Truth of Things: An Overview of the Philosophy of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Forthcoming)

The study of philosophy aims not at knowing what men have thought, but what the truth of things is. — Saint Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Aristotle’s On the Heavens, Book I, Lecture 22, no. 228..

Drawing on over twenty-five years of teaching, as well as writing and managing the Thomistic Philosophy website, Dr. Joseph Magee provides a thorough and engaging outline of the fundamentals of the philosophical thought of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Although the Angelic Doctor was a professional theologian, he incorporated in his theological reflections a great deal of philosophy especially (though not exclusively) that of Aristotle, as well as innovating his own insights into the rational structure of reality, the human soul, and moral reasoning. To Know the Truth of Things: An Overview of the Philosophy of Saint Thomas Aquinas leads the student of Thomistic philosophy through its historical context, principles, and principal elements to present a more complete picture of his philosophical insights and the contribution they make to an integrated understanding of reality, which as he writes, is the goal of philosophy: to know the truth of things.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction to the Life and Work of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Sample Draft)
  2. Basics of Logic: the Art and Science of Reasoning
  3. Philosophy of Nature: the Study of What Is in Matter and Motion
  4. Philosophical Psychology: the Study of the Soul
  5. Metaphysics: the Study of Being as Being
  6. Natural Theology I: Knowing God’s Existence through Reason
  7. Natural Theology II: Knowing (Something of) God’s Nature (Attributes)
  8. Ethics: the Study of Good and Evil Human Acts and Virtues
  9. Political Thought: the Study of the Common Good

A College Student’s Spiritual Survival Guide, 2nd Revised Edition (2024)

College is an exciting time, filled with many challenges: academic, personal, emotional, and spiritual. The Catholic Church believes that following Jesus Christ is the most important thing you can do with your life at any time, but especially in college. Remaining close to Christ and His Church can help you navigate some of life’s challenges, give you direction as you seek your calling in life, and provide peace and joy in the midst of life’s difficulties.

In order for you to make the most of your time in college, and so you have the resources you need to flourish spiritually and to maintain and share your Catholic faith, this little book provides some basic Catholic prayers, practices, and teaching to get you started or to keep you going in cultivating and developing your relationship with Jesus in and through the Church He established for the salvation of the world. Download E-book free!

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION — 1

PART I — PRAYER

  • WHAT IS PRAYER?   2
  • PRAYING THE SCRIPTURES    4
  • DAILY PRAYERS    5
    Sign of the Cross
    Our Father
    Hail Mary
    Glory Be
    Apostle’s Creed
    Hail Holy Queen
    How to Pray the Rosary
    Memorare
    Act of Faith
    Act of Hope
    Act of Love
    Act of Contrition (Sorrow)
    Prayer to the Holy Spirit
    Morning Offering
    Night Prayer
  • PRAYERS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS     14
    Prayer before Study of St. Thomas Aquinas
    Prayer to St. Joseph of Cupertino for Students
    Prayer of Thomas Merton
    Cardinal Henry Newman Meditation
    Jeremiah 29:11-14
    Isaiah 43:1-3
    Prayer for Vocations
    Prayer for Purity of St. Thomas Aquinas
    Prayer for the Addicted
    Prayer in Time of Distress
    Prayer for Perseverance
  • PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS     20
    Prayer to St. Joseph
    Prayer to St. Michael
    Breastplate of St. Patrick
    Peace Prayer of St. Francis
    Canticle of Brother Sun of St. Francis

PART II — THE CATHOLIC FAITH

Unmixing the Intellect: Aristotle on Cognitive Powers and Bodily Organs (Greenwood 2003)

In this work, Dr. Magee argues that, according to the principles he develops throughout the De Anima, Aristotle successfully concludes to a strong sense of the separateness of mind (nous) insofar as its activity occurs apart from the body. Because of the contrast Aristotle draws between mind and the senses in his arguments, Dr. Magee examines closely his understanding of sensation and the sense powers. In the course of this analysis, Dr. Magee argues against various interpreters who claim that Aristotle’s theory of mind is an ancient iteration of cognitivism, functionalism or some version of supervenience.

Table of Contents
Preface — ix
Introduction — xi
Abbreviations for Works of Aristotle — xix

  1. Aristotle and Contemporary Theories of Mind — 1
  2. The Separability of Nous and Cognitivist Functionalism — 25
  3. The Similarities between Nous and Sense — 53
  4. The Relationship of Sense Powers to Their Organs — 75
  5. The Difference between Aisthesis and Nous (sample) — 117

Bibliography — 145
Index — 153