Classical Theism, Philosophy, and Religion Forum / Going further than TLS

**Posted by Jean65** 4/20/2016 8:56 am

I am currently re-reading TLS in order to carefully grasp all the arguments that are defended. I was wondering which books (not necessarily from Feser) would be appropriate to going further? I already have Aquinas.
Thx for your answers!

**Posted by Greg** 4/20/2016 10:05 am

Is there any particular topic you'd like to focus on? Fundamental metaphysics, God's existence, God's nature, philosophy of mind, ethics?

Last edited by Greg (4/20/2016 10:05 am)

**Posted by Jean65** 4/20/2016 12:37 pm

I would like to focus on philosophy of religion and philosophy of nature in general. I am interested in the relations between scientific investigation and philosophical investigation too. I am not a expert so I'd like it at an introduction level.

Last edited by Jean65 (4/20/2016 12:45 pm)

**Posted by DanielCC** 4/20/2016 5:44 pm

Jean65 wrote:
I would like to focus on philosophy of religion and philosophy of nature in general. I am interested in the relations between scientific investigation and philosophical investigation too. I am not a expert so I'd like it at an introduction level.

In which case I'd heartily recommend Brian Ellis 'The Philosophy of Nature: A Guide to the New Essentialism, an easily accessible introduction to 'real' essentialism with an eye to its virtues in Philosophy of Science.

If you're willing to tackle something more formidable try David Oderberg's Real Essentialism, a comprehensive discussion of essentialism in philosophy of nature. Alterantively Ed's ownScholastic Metaphysics: A Contemporary Introduction, makes a very nice follow-up to that Ellis volume.

Last edited by DanielCC (4/20/2016 5:45 pm)

**Posted by Greg** 4/21/2016 11:45 am

I would second Daniel's recommendations; if you don't want to get too deep into the thick of it, put off Oderberg's book for a while.

I would also suggest Feser's Neo-Scholastic Essays, where he develops themes in each of your areas of interest. They're academic papers but even his academic style is very accessible.

John Haldane and J.J.C. Smart's Atheism and Theism is also fairly accessible; it is a book length debate between a Thomist and famous atheist philosopher. Get the second edition, which has an additional round of replies from each author (mostly replies to reviewers). Brian Davies' The Reality of God and the Problem of Evil is worth a look if you're interested in the problem of evil.

A more difficult book you'd might try (parallel to Oderberg's) is Eleonore Stump's Aquinas. It covers a range of Aquinas's thought and looks in some further detail at God's nature (though she does not cover arguments for God's existence). She has also done work on the problem of evil and the God of Christianity vs./and the God of classical theism, about both of which I have heard good things--though I have not read either yet.

Though they aren't in the areas you'd mentioned, it is worth reading Alasdair MacIntyre's major works, at least After Virtue and Whose Justice? Which Rationality?

Last edited by Greg (4/21/2016 11:46 am)

**Posted by Mysterious Brony** 4/21/2016 9:43 pm

Hmmmm, I agree with some of the recommendations. However, if you want more introductory philosophy of religion and nature try Feser's "Aquinas." Additionally, Michael Augros' "Who Designed the Designer?" James Dolezal's "God without Parts" are really good books that introduces one to Thomistic philosophy. Another book that touches upon the problem of evil from an A-T perspective is Herbert McCabe's "God and Evil" Finally, William Wallace's "The Modeling of Nature" and Michael Dodds' "Unlocking Divine Action" are two books that touch upon A-T philosophy and contemporary science. As a side note: the Roman Catholic Dominican Order usually still teaches scholastic philosophy these days, so I recommend looking into their works.

**Posted by Jean65** 4/22/2016 12:55 pm

So muuuch books!
Thanks for your recommandations!

**Posted by Timotheos** 4/22/2016 1:57 pm

While it's a little advanced, but not too terribly so, Reginald Garrigou Lagrange's "God: His Existence and Nature" is a really good exposition of the five ways, and the metaphysical principles behind them. The benefit for you would be that it was originally written in French, and as I recall you're a native French speaker, so I imagine it would be nice to have a work written in such. Lagrange's "Reality" is also good, and deals with a wide range of metaphysical questions.

Anything by Jacques Maritain is also great, and stands a good chance of being available somewhere for you in the original French.

Anthony Rizzi's "The Science Before Science" is a good work on the relationship between Thomistic metaphysics and modern science, and it's written by a philosophically well-informed Phd physicist, which is a nice plus.

Last edited by Timotheos (4/22/2016 1:57 pm)