Metaphysics/Ontology and St. Thomas Aquinas
by Dr. Donald G. Boland
With this book the author moves from what Aristotle and Aquinas called the order of practical studies to the theoretical. At their highest levels it is from the ethical to the metaphysical. To the modern mind, if the consideration of morality or ethics is hardly relevant in the study of science the consideration of ontology or metaphysics is even less so. Indeed, any principles or conclusions put would almost universally be regarded as quite unscientific.
What the author wishes to show in this book is that this modern mental position could not be further from the truth. A close study of Aristotle shows, and Aquinas clearly demonstrates, that all human science and knowledge depends upon what we can know from Metaphysics. The core of this study, which is given the name “Ontology”, from the Greek to on (Latin ens), rather loosely rendered in English as “being”, is all contained virtually in St. Thomas’s pregnant sentence, id quod primo cadit in intellectu est ens (“that which the human mind is first aware of is being”).
Leave this out and the bottom falls out of all our other knowledge. This evacuation, as Aristotle shows, cannot really be done. But, many philosophers and scientists of the modern era, like Heraclitus of old, pose as if they rejected the certainties of Metaphysics., to the detriment of all science. Hopefully, our readers will see the need for the return of Wisdom, which Metaphysics is, to its position of eminence in the study of science.
Paperback: $19.95 | Kindle: $9.99
OTHER TITLES BY DONALD G. BOLAND
- Logic, Science, and St. Thomas Aquinas | En Route Books and Media
- Natural Philosophy, Modern Science and Saint Thomas Aquinas | En Route Books and Media
- Science, Psychology and Saint Thomas Aquinas by Donald G. Boland | En Route Books and Media
- Ethics Today and Saint Thomas Aquinas | En Route Books and Media
- Natural Law – Australian Style | En Route Books and Media
- Political Science and Saint Thomas Aquinas | En Route Books and Media
- Economic Science and St. Thomas Aquinas: On Justice in the Distribution and Exchange of Wealth | En Route Books and Media
- The Social Encyclicals and Saint Thomas Aquinas | En Route Books and Media
- Metaphysics, Truth and St. Thomas Aquinas | En Route Books and Media
- Metaphysics/Ontology and St. Thomas Aquinas (Twenty Readings in Wisdom Forsaken) | En Route Books and Media
- Thomas of the Creator | En Route Books and Media
- The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis | En Route Books and Media
TESTIMONIALS
“The fundamental place of Metaphysics (natural wisdom) in the range of human reason and in the full notion of science (as clearly set out by both St Thomas Aquinas and Aristotle) is wonderfully exposed in this book. For its author, Dr Don Boland, it is clearly a labor of love. Not wanting to embarrass him, I shall nevertheless, as a fitting endorsement, quote from the book itself:
- ‘The object of our series of books is simply to make up if in a small way for the neglect of the study of Aquinas in modern day education, especially as this neglect has spread to Catholic educational institutions, even sponsored by the hierarchy of the various countries of the ‘West’, among which are seminaries … This is despite the constant and clear insistence of the popes in document after document upon education up to university level, to pay special attention to Aquinas.
Somehow or other, even the bishops have been led or misled by those imbued with a secularist program, received no doubt in their own education/indoctrination, to distract the study of the youth and young adults into paths that end up alienating many not just from their Church but also from their own Catholic families. Parents who have been deeply concerned to give their children a good Catholic education are bewildered when the very institutions they have trusted seem to produce the opposite effect. No one should underestimate the power of a secularist culture in which they are required to live.’If this book is taken as seriously as it should be, it will do much good in restoring the rightful foundations of truly Catholic education.” – Frank Calneggia, author of Assertions and Refutations
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Donald G Boland Ll. B. Ph. D. is a founding member of the Centre for Catholic Studies Inc. in Sydney Australia and is one of its former Presidents. He practiced for a number of years as a lawyer having a degree in law from the University of Sydney. Over much the same time, having obtained a doctorate in philosophy from the University of St. Thomas in Rome, he has taught philosophy and law in both Catholic and secular educational institutions, such as the University of Technology, Sydney, the University of Newcastle, the Aquinas Academy, the Centre for Thomistic Studies Inc., now operating under the name of the Centre for Catholic Studies Inc., and various Catholic seminaries, such as those of the Marists and the Vincentians. His doctoral thesis was on the concepts of utility and value in economics as found in the works of Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas.
OTHER CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHY BOOKS
Essays on the Life and Work of Étienne Gilson: Christian Humanist and Global Peacemaker by Peter Redpath
Essays on the Life and Work of Étienne Gilson: Christian Humanist and Global Peacemaker by Dr. Peter Anthony Achilles Redpath The book of essays offers a comprehensive exploration of the intellectual life of Étienne Gilson, generally considered to be the leading...
A Handbook on How Prudential Common Sense Can Save the World from Imminent Collapse by Peter Redpath
A Handbook on How Prudential Common Sense Can Save the World from Imminent Collapse by Dr. Peter Anthony Achilles Redpath Ever since the start of the twentieth century, and especially toward the rise and end of World War II, some Western intellectuals started to...
Proofs for God–Some New Approaches: A Catholic Philosopher Defends Elements of Classical Proofs, While Also Offering Somewhat Novel Metaphysical Demonstrations by Dennis Bonnette
Proofs for God--Some New Approaches: A Catholic Philosopher Defends Elements of Classical Proofs, While Also Offering Somewhat Novel Metaphysical Demonstrations by Dennis Bonnette, Ph.D. Proofs for God--Some New Approaches explains and defends the metaphysical first...
Man’s Nature–Spiritual, Immortal, and Free: A Catholic Philosopher Defends the Human Spiritual Soul and Presents Unique Analysis of Modern Ape-Language Research by Dennis Bonnette
Man's Nature--Spiritual, Immortal, and Free: A Catholic Philosopher Defends the Human Spiritual Soul and Presents Unique Analysis of Modern Ape-Language Research by Dennis Bonnette, Ph.D. Man's Nature--Spiritual, Immortal, and Free is a work of philosophical...
Foundations for Universal Certitudes: A Catholic Philosopher Defends Metaphysical First Principles that Firmly Support Traditional Aristotelian-Thomistic Sciences by Dennis Bonnette
Foundations for Universal Certitudes: A Catholic Philosopher Defends Metaphysical First Principles that Firmly Support Traditional Aristotelian-Thomistic Sciences by Dennis Bonnette, Ph.D. Foundations for Universal Certitudes demonstrates the apodictic certainty of...
Revealed Mysteries Rationally Defended: A Catholic Philosopher Explains and Defends Several Central Revealed Truths by Dennis Bonnette
Revealed Mysteries Rationally Defended: A Catholic Philosopher Explains and Defends Several Central Revealed Truths by Dennis Bonnette, Ph.D. Revealed Mysteries Rationally Defended addresses the metaphysics of miracles and the manner in which supernatural grace...
God’s Nature and Relation to Creatures: A Catholic Philosopher Explains Divine Attributes, Problem of Evil, and Natural Law Ethics
God’s Nature and Relation to Creatures: A Catholic Philosopher Explains Divine Attributes, Problem of Evil, and Natural Law Ethics by Dennis Bonnette, Ph.D. God's Nature and Relation to Creatures aims primarily at helping readers understand that the nature and...
Atheistic Materialism’s Unseen Errors: A Catholic Philosopher Exposes Naturalism’s Incoherent Worldview by Dennis Bonnette
Atheistic Materialism’s Unseen Errors: A Catholic Philosopher Exposes Naturalism’s Incoherent Worldview by Dennis Bonnette, Ph.D. Atheistic Materialism's Unseen Errors, written in purely rational terms of how reality actually is constituted in ways that materialism...
The Development of Political Theory by Richard Bishirjian
The Development of Political Theory: A Critical Analysis by Richard Bishirjian Students of political science properly hunger for comprehensive approaches to political theory which place in theoretical perspective the major ideas which govern the world today. This...
Assertions and Refutations II An Assessment of “A Secular Age” by Charles Taylor, authored by Donald G. Boland
Assertions and Refutations II: An Assessment of “A Secular Age” by Charles Taylor by Dr. Donald G. Boland This book is as stated on its cover an assessment of a book by Charles Taylor entitled “A Secular Age” published in 2007. It serves mainly as a critique of...
Analysing the Errors and Exposing the Real Agenda of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J.: The Selected Works of Frits Albers, Vol. 1
Analysing the Errors and Exposing the Real Agenda of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J.: The Selected Works of Frits Albers, Vol. 1 by Frits Albers, edited with a Foreword by Frank Calneggia Selected for publication in this present volume are four of the principal works...
Four Catholic Philosophers: Rejoicing in the Truth (Jacques Maritain, Edith Stein, Dietrich von Hildebrand, Karol Wojtyła)
Four Catholic Philosophers: Rejoicing in the Truth (Jacques Maritain, Edith Stein, Dietrich von Hildebrand, Karol Wojtyła) by Richard A. Spinello This book unfolds the intersecting life stories of four important Catholic philosophers of the 20th century, namely,...
Metaphysics, Truth and St. Thomas Aquinas
Metaphysics, Truth and St. Thomas Aquinas by Dr. Donald G. Boland In studying natural wisdom, Dr. Boland takes a look at how Aristotle defends the principle of non-contradiction, focusing on the great philosopher's treatment of the causes that prompted the ancients to...
Thomas of the Creator
Thomas of the Creator by Dr. Donald G. Boland Based on the works of St. Thomas, in particular his two Summas and his commentaries on Aristotle’s Physics and Metaphysics, this book is divided into three parts; 1) The Existence of God; 2) His Essence; 3) His Attributes,...
Rational Responses to Skepticism: A Catholic Philosopher Defends Intellectual Foundations for Traditional Belief by Dennis Bonnette, Ph.D.
Rational Responses to Skepticism: A Catholic Philosopher Defends Intellectual Foundations for Traditional Belief by Dennis Bonnette, Ph.D. Following an avalanche of spirited criticism from skeptics, agnostics, and atheists, who have provided forceful intellectual...
Political Science and Saint Thomas Aquinas
Political Science and Saint Thomas Aquinas by Dr. Donald G Boland This book seeks to provide a relatively complete basis for the understanding of political science as presented by Aristotle, with the help of Saint Thomas Aquinas mainly by way of his (partial)...
Ethics Today and Saint Thomas Aquinas
Ethics Today and Saint Thomas Aquinas: A Complete Course on Moral Philosophy for Our Time and All Times by Dr. Donald G. Boland This book seeks to provide a complete moral philosophy based on the works of St. Thomas Aquinas. The first part deals with the principles or...
Assertions and Refutations: An Assessment of Dr Tracey Rowland’s Natural Law: From Neo Thomism to Nuptial Mysticism
Assertions and Refutations: An Assessment of Dr Tracey Rowland’s Natural Law: From Neo Thomism to Nuptial Mysticism by Frank Calneggia This book unties the philosophical knot of Dr Tracey Rowland’s assertions concerning the natural moral law, Faith and reason, nature...
Natural Law – Australian Style
Natural Law - Australian Style: A Study in Disputation focusing on the Work of Peter Singer, John Finnis and Tracey Rowland by Dr. Donald G. Boland This book is a critique of the three most prominent Australian "authorities" on Law and Ethics of the present day,...
The Drama of Metaphysics: An Exploration into the Psychological Power of Worldviews
The Drama of Metaphysics: An Exploration into the Psychological Power of Worldviews by Stephen Alexander Beach Western Philosophy has been a 2500-year conversation attempting to understand the reality which lies beyond the changing physical appearances of the world....
The Battle for the 20th Century Mind by Ronda Chervin
The Battle for the 20th Century Mind by Ronda Chervin TBA Paperback: $19.95 | Kindle: $9.99 Reviews A review of Dr. Ronda Chervin’s, The Battle for the 20th Century Mind (St. Luis, MO: En Route Books and Media, 2022) by Francis Etheredge Ronda Chervin sets out her...
Conscious Energy and the Evolution of Philosophy
Conscious Energy and the Evolution of Philosophy by Joe P. Provenzano This is a book about philosophy, but it is a book for everyone—everyone who has ever wondered about the meaning of the universe and human life—because it provides answers to two fundamental...
A Primer in the Philosophy of John Paul II–In His Own Words
A Primer in the Philosophy of John Paul II--In His Own Words by Dr. Michael J. Healy To aid students in comprehending the Holy Father's thought, Dr. Healy provides close-to-the-text summary interpretations of Saint John Paul II's major philosophical works, condensing...
Three Acts: A Commentary on Plato’s Theaetetus
Three Acts: A Commentary on Plato's Theaetetus by Brandon Spun This guide to Plato’s Theaetetus is both an introduction to philosophy and an analysis of the dialogue according to the three acts of the mind. It suggests that Plato explores the problem of knowledge by...
Philosophy Begins in Wonder
Philosophy Begins in Wonder by Stephen D. Schwarz with Kiki Latimer This book is the compilation of over fifty years of teaching Ethics, Metaphysics, Epistemology, Philosophy of the Person, and Virtue Ethics in the classroom setting. Philosophy Begins in Wonder offers...
The Gender Link to the Human Soul by Kimberly Bruce
The Gender Link to the Human Soul by Kimberly Bruce The Gender Link to the Human Soul establishes gender as an element of the soul retained in this life and for all eternity. This is demonstrated in the brilliant philosophical insights of Thomas Aquinas and John Paul...
How to Listen & How to Speak by Dr. Peter Redpath
How to Listen & How to Speak: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants to Renew Commonsense and Uncommonsense Wisdom in the Contemporary World by Dr. Peter Redpath While the subject of this monograph is chiefly human communication in the form of listening and speaking,...
Words, Concepts, Reality: Aristotelian Logic for Teenagers
Words, Concepts, Reality: Aristotelian Logic for Teenagers By Thaddeus Kozinski, Ph.D. When we hear the word logic, we tend to think of arguments, premises and conclusions, claims and evidence for claims. But this is only half of it. Arguments are made of words, and...
The Right Way to Live: Plato’s Republic for Catholic Students by Richard Geraghty
The Right Way to Live: Plato's Republic for Catholic Students by Richard Geraghty Plato's philosophical dialogues provide a solid understanding of Catholic moral principles. Geraghty shows within these pages how the truths of the old sage are both delightfully and...
Soulful Organizational Leadership by Arthur William McVey
Soulful Organizational Leadership by Arthur William McVey In the "Postmodern" organizational era, the concept of soul, spirituality, rationality, telos, virtue, happiness, and meaning is becoming increasingly a mainstream component in scientific psychology. This...
A Reader in Recent Catholic Philosophy, ed. by Dr. Alan Vincelette
A Reader in Recent Catholic Philosophy: The Twentieth Century Ed. by Alan Vincelette This presentation of readings in Catholic philosophy in the twentieth-century reveals a remarkable diversity of views. Dr. Vincelette presents this diversity in the selection of...
Recent Catholic Philosophy: The Twentieth Century
Recent Catholic Philosophy: The Twentieth Century by Alan Vincelette This presentation of Catholic philosophy in the twentieth-century reveals a remarkable diversity of views. Dr. Vincelette presents this diversity in an expository manner without applying the kind of...
The Destructive Doctrines of our Age by Gerard M. Verschuuren
The Destructive Doctrines of Our Age by Gerard M. Verschuuren There are many doctrines around that try to change and mold our minds—doctrines such as relativism and secularism, to name just a couple, but this book discusses 13 more. These doctrines are rather...
Broken Hearts in a Broken World by Gerard M. Verschuuren
Broken Hearts in a Broken World by Gerard M. Verschuuren Brokenness has become endemic in our days. In poll after poll, the vast majority of respondents say that our country is fundamentally broken. Our political system is broken. Our economy is broken. Our very...
A Companion to Reading Newman’s Grammar of Assent by Richard Geraghty
A Companion to Reading Newman's Grammar of Assent by Richard Geraghty In this book A Companion to Reading Newman’s Grammar of Assent, Richard Geraghty explains Newman’s truths by illustrating them as they pertain to contemporary Catholic issues. Through his personal...
The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis
The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis by Dr. Donald G Boland As with every great philosopher and theologian, the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, though perhaps the clearest expressed of all, has inevitably been subject to a variety of interpretations....
Voyage to Insight
Voyage to Insight by Dr. Ronda Chervin En Route Books and Media has reprinted Ronda Chervin and Lois Janis’ book Voyage to Insight with fresh, exciting graphics. It can be read straight through or you can add your own insights into the book and even dialogue about...
A Not-So-Elementary Christian Metaphysics, Volume 2: An Introduction to Ragamuffin Thomism
A Not-So-Elementary Christian Metaphysics, Volume 2: An Introduction to Ragamuffin Thomism by Dr. Peter Redpath Nothing short of a metaphysical disturbance and metaphysical revolution of the highest order can resolve the West’s and the world’s current cultural,...
A Not-So-Elementary Christian Metaphysics, Volume 1: Written in the Hope of Ending the Centuries-old Separation between Philosophy and Science and Science and Wisdom
A Not-So-Elementary Christian Metaphysics, Volume 1: Written in the Hope of Ending the Centuries-old Separation between Philosophy and Science and Science and Wisdom by Dr. Peter Redpath This book’s chief aim is novel and radical: to reunite philosophy, science, and...
The Moral Psychology of St. Thomas Aquinas: An Introduction to Ragamuffin Ethics
The Moral Psychology of St. Thomas Aquinas: An Introduction to Ragamuffin Ethics by Dr. Peter Redpath Through a radical reinterpretation of classical philosophy as an organizational psychology, The Moral Psychology of St. Thomas: An Introduction to Ragamuffin...