Jeffrey E. Brower's 'Aquinas’s Ontology of the Material World' delves into the philosophical intricacies of Thomas Aquinas's understanding of the material world. The book explores Aquinas's hylomorphism, a theory that explains the composition of substances from matter and form. Brower examines how this theory addresses change, the nature of material objects, and their relationship to God. The work is a significant contribution to medieval philosophy and metaphysics, offering a detailed analysis of Aquinas's complex thought. It is essential reading for scholars and students interested in Aquinas's ontology and its implications.
The Oxford Handbook on Aquinas provides a comprehensive overview of the life, works, and enduring influence of the renowned philosopher and theologian, Thomas Aquinas. It brings together leading scholars to explore various aspects of Aquinas's thought, including his metaphysics, ethics, political philosophy, and theology. The handbook serves as an invaluable resource for students and researchers seeking a deeper understanding of Aquinas's contributions to Western thought. Its wide-ranging coverage makes it a key text for anyone interested in medieval philosophy and theology. The handbook's diverse perspectives offer a rich and nuanced understanding of Aquinas's legacy.
Prof. Jeffrey Brower defends Aquinas’s hylomorphic account of human nature, arguing that the soul, as the body’s substantial form, ensures metaphysical unity while allowing for postmortem survival, offering a coherent alternative to materialism and substance dualism
This lecture was given on February 25th, 2025, at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
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About the Speaker:
Jeffrey E. Brower is Professor of Philosophy at Purdue University, where he serves as the faculty advisor for the Thomistic Institute. He specializes in medieval philosophy, metaphysics, and philosophical theology and especially enjoys working at the intersection of all three areas. He is the author of Aquinas’s Ontology of the Material World: Change, Hylomorphism, and Material Objects (Oxford University Press, 2014) and a contributor to The Oxford Handbook on Aquinas (Oxford University Press, 2012). His recent articles include “Aquinas on the Individuation of Substances,” Oxford Studies in Medieval Philosophy (2017) and “Aquinas on the Problem of Universals,” Philosophy and Phenomenological Research (2016).
This project/publication was made possible through the support of Grant 63391 from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation.
Keywords: Aquinas’s Hylomorphism, Body-Soul Unity, Cartesian Dualism, Immaterial Soul, Interim State, Materialism, Metaphysical Unity, Postmortem Survival, Substantial Form, Thomistic Anthropology
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