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Summa Theologica, Part I-II

Thomas Aquinas

The English translation of Aquinas's major work on ethics and human action, part of his Summa Theologica.

The English text of Aquinas's own major theological work, central to understanding his thought.

Full text (public-domain edition)

About this source

What it is

This is an English translation of part of the Summa Theologica, the central theological work of Thomas Aquinas, covering questions on human action and ethics. The translation was made by Fathers of the English Dominican Province and published by Benziger Brothers; this electronic text was prepared later by volunteer transcribers, not by Aquinas himself.

Why it matters

The Summa Theologica is one of the most influential works of Christian theology and philosophy, shaping Catholic doctrine for centuries. This section addresses deep questions about good, evil, and human choice, showing Aquinas's systematic method of posing questions and reasoning through answers.

Look closer

  • Why does Aquinas organize his writing as questions and articles rather than a flowing narrative?
  • What does the dedication to the Virgin Mary tell us about the purpose of the work?
  • How might translation and later editing change the way we read a medieval text today?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Saint Thomas Aquinas on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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