Lucrările Conferinței „Toma de Aquino 800. Autorul și opera“
Thomas Aquinas 800: The Author and His Work. Proceedings of the Conference
Lorena Stuparu (7-21)
Toma de Aquino, De ente et essentia / Despre fiind și esență
Thomas Aquinas, De ente et essentia / On Being and Essence
Thomistic philosophical‑theological reflection on the human intellect’s comprehension of being and essence through language culminates in the affirmation that in God, essence is identical with being. The logical and ontological trajectory followed by the Dominican thinker includes key distinctions: separate substances, in which essence differs from being and is identical with form; composite substances, in which essence differs from being and coincides with the matter‑form compound; and accidents, whose essence is incomplete and relative, as it includes their subject in the definition. The central aim of the De ente et essentia is to grasp the essence of the supreme Being and of other beings through a discourse that makes knowledge possible by analysing the meanings of the names that signify being. The central role of essence in this ‘grammar of being’ underlies the ontological solidarity among different levels of reality, from the highest to the lowest.
Dan Cautis (22-38)
Toma de Aquino: In libros Aristotelis De caelo et mundo expositio. Desăvârșirea sintezei aristotelice
Thomas Aquinas’ In libros Aristotelis De caelo et mundo: A Synthesis of the Aristotelian Natural Philosophy
This paper explores Thomas Aquinas’ commentary on Aristotle’s De caelo et mundo as the culmination of his lifelong project to synthesize Aristotelian natural philosophy with Christian theology. Focusing on Books I–III, it analyses key cosmological themes such as the incorruptibility and motion of celestial bodies, the composition and transformation of sublunary elements, and the teleological order of the cosmos. Aquinas integrates Aristotelian concepts—like ether, potentiality and actuality, and natural motion—into his metaphysical and theological framework. He harmonizes Aristotle’s eternal cosmos with Christian doctrines of creation ex nihilo and divine providence, demonstrating the compatibility of reason and faith. His commentary affirms a hierarchical and purposive universe, reflecting the wisdom and care of the Creator. By uniting natural philosophy, metaphysics, and theology, Aquinas elevates Aristotelian cosmology to a theological plane, building a bridge between ancient philosophy and medieval Christianity. This study positions De caelo et mundo as the final and essential element of Aquinas’ intellectual synthesis and underscores its enduring relevance for contemporary philosophical and theological inquiry.
Cristian Bălănean (39-48)
O Summa a Summei contra Gentiles – Cartea I
A Summa of the Summa contra Gentiles: Book I
The article offers a comprehensive overview of one of Aquinasʼs most important works, with a predominantly philosophical character: Summa contra Gentiles. After a brief examination of Thomistic natural theology in the light of contemporary thought, assessing its ongoing relevance, the article exposes the biographical context in which the work was conceived and written, outlines its purpose and guiding methodological principles, also offering a tripartite thematic structure.
Lucian Dîncă (49-71)
In Orationem Dominicam. Influențe patristice în Explicarea Rugăciunii Domnești a Sfântului Toma de Aquino
In Orationem Dominicam: Patristic Influences on St. Thomas Aquinas’ Explanation of the Lord’s Prayer
Among his many theological contributions, St. Thomas Aquinas also composed a commentary on the Lord’s Prayer. In 1273, a year before his death, the Dominican theologian was invited to Naples to preach the Lenten Sunday homilies. On this occasion, he proposed a catechetical itinerary structured around the three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity. To cultivate faith, he expounded the Nicene‑Constantinopolitan Creed, outlining the truths to be believed; to foster hope, he explained the two principal prayers—the Our Father and the Hail Mary—highlighting the goods to be hoped for; and to encourage charity, he commented on the Decalogue, as the practice of the commandments grounded in love. This article traces Aquinas’ theological method in these Lenten instructions, emphasizing his capacity to synthesize the Christian faith through biblical exegesis and the patristic tradition.
Gabriela Tănăsescu (72-93)
Liber de perfectione spiritualis vitae. Context și text
Liber de perfectione spiritualis vitae: Context and Text
The paper aims to present the opuscule Liber de perfectione spiritualis vitae on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the author’s birth, given its recognized status as a classic work in the field of ascetic and mystical theology which offers a complete explanation of the higher Christian life. In the form of a sketch subsumed rather to the history of ideas, the paper includes a contextualization of the opus emergence, an outlining of its ideational chain and a specification of its role in drafting II‑IIae of the Summa Theologiae.
Gabriela Blebea Nicolae (94-101)
Și totuși, virtuțile contează și astăzi
And Yet, the Virtues Still Matter Today
This article explores the enduring relevance of the cardinal and theological virtues, focusing on their systematic treatment in Thomas Aquinas’s Summa Theologiae and their reinterpretation in modern virtue ethics. It examines the structure and interrelation of virtues and vices in Aquinas, highlighting the role of prudentia as a keystone of moral reasoning. Drawing on thinkers such as Elizabeth Anscombe, Alasdair MacIntyre, Charles Taylor, and Pierre Bourdieu, the study connects Aquinas’s philosophical theology with contemporary debates on character formation, social ethics, and the potential for moral transformation within communities. The article argues for the civic and practical utility of virtues in both personal development and societal cohesion.
Apariții editoriale (102-106)
Book Presentations
Cronică (107-109)
Events