Saint Thomas and Platonism A Study of the Plato and Platonici Texts in the Writings of Saint Thomas

The present work is substantially a dissertation presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Toronto. While aware of the numerous imperfections of the work I have decided, on the urging of many colleagues, to publish it at this time because of the current relevance of the subject-matter and especially of the collection of texts. I am happy to acknowledge my indebtedness to the faculty of the Pontifical Mediaeval Institute of Toronto and especially to the Reverend Ignatius Eschmann, O.P., who first suggested the idea of this study and whose encouragement and assistance brought it to completion. My thanks are due also to the Reverend George Klubertanz, S.J., and Mr. Paul Mathews, both of the Department of Philosophy of Saint Louis University, and" for invaluable secretarial assistance, to Mrs. Savina Tonella and Miss Agnes Kutz. R. J. HENLE, S.j. Saint Louis December, 1954 TABLE OF CONTENTS GENERAL INTRODUCTION. . .

One The Texts.- The Plato and Platonici Texts and Their Sources.- Analytic Index to the Texts.- Two Basic Study of the Texts.- I. Saint Thomas’ Methodology in the Treatment of Positiones.- II. Introduction to the Ratio-Positio Analysis of Platonic Doctrines.- III. The Pre-Platonic Moment of the Via Platonica: The Theory of Flux and the Deception of the Senses.- IV. The Basic Principles of the Via Platonica.- V. The Platonic Ideas.- VI. The Commentary on the Metaphysics: The Platonic Ideas as Ultimate Explicative Principles.- VII. Platonic Participation.- VIII. Plato’s Theory of Human Cognition.- IX. The Platonic Doctrine of the Human Soul.- X. The Separated Substances.- XI. Summary and Conclusions.- Notes.- Indexes.