The Summa Contra Gentiles, one of Aquinas's best known works after the Summa Theologiae, is a philosophical and theological synthesis that examines what can be known of God both by reason and by divine revelation. A detailed expository account of and commentary on this famous work, Davies's book aims to help readers think about the value of the Summa Contra Gentiles (SCG) for themselves, relating the contents and teachings found in the SCG to those of other works and other thinkers both theological and philosophical. Following a scholarly account of Aquinas's life and his likely intentions in writing the SCG, the volume works systematically through all four books of the text.

Brian Davies is Professor of Philosophy at Fordham University.

Preface

1. The Summa Contra Gentiles and its Context
2. Approaching the Question of God's Existence (SCG, 1,10-12)
3. Arguing for God's Existence (SCG, 1,13)
4. God as Eternal and Simple (SCG, 1,14-27)
5. Talking About God (SCG, 1,28-36)
6. Goodness, Oneness and Infinity (SCG, 1,37-43)
7. God's Knowledge (SCG, 1,44-71)
8. God's Will, Life, and Blessedness (SCG, 1,72-102)
9. God as Omnipotent Creator (SCG, 2,1-29)
10. Necessity in Creatures, the Eternity of the World, and Distinctions among Creatures (SCG, 2,30-45)
11. Intellectual Creatures (SCG, 2,46-101)
12. Agents, Ends, Evil, and Good (SCG, 3,1-15)
13. The End of All Things and of People in Particular (SCG, 3,16-63)
14. Providence at Work (SCG, 3,64-110)
15. Providence in Relation to Rational Creatures (SCG, 3,111-163)
16. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (SCG, 4,2-26)
17. God Incarnate (SCG, 4,27-49)
18. The Fittingness of the Incarnation, Sacraments, Resurrection, and the Final State of all People and of the World (SCG, 4,50-97)

Appendix: SCG At A Glance
Bibliography
Index