The Reception of Thomas Aquinas in Moral Theology and Moral Philosophy in the Late 20th Century: Richard McCormick, John Finnis, and Alasdair MacIntyre as Rival Models
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
2021
Abstract
Richard McCormick, John Finnis, and Alasdair MacIntyre offer rival models of the reception of Aquinas in late twentieth century moral theology and philosophy. They differed in their interpretations of Aquinas as well as in how they conceived the relationship of Aquinas with predecessors such as Aristotle and with successors such as the neo-scholastic manualists. In a way, McCormick and MacIntyre are mirror images. McCormick became less and less Thomistic as the years went on, for he came to reject Thomas’s conclusions about many practical matters as well as coming to reject Thomistic principles. MacIntyre became more and more Thomistic as the years went on, coming to accept Thomas’s views, including on a great many matters that he had previously rejected. Finnis, by contrast to both, maintains a steady interest in Thomas over many decades and his reception of Thomas involves relatively minor organic developments.
Recommended Citation
Kaczor, C. (2021). The Reception of Thomas Aquinas in Moral Theology and Moral Philosophy in the Late Twentieth Century. In M. Levering & M. Plested (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of the Reception of Aquinas (pp. 485–500). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198798026.013.30
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