Summary of Scholastic Principles by Bernard Wuellner, first published in 1956, is a list of principles grouped by topic.
Many of the listed principles are commonsensical but, as expected, some can be quite technical given that accuracy is important. Some principles have a “variant”—just different wording—which is typically helpful.
References (citations) and internal cross-referencing are provided which is convenient. Not surprisingly, many principles are taken from Summa Theologiae by St Thomas Aquinas.
There are 569 principles grouped into 45 sections by topic. The topics are merely in alphabetical order. Some sections contain a few principles whilst longer sections may contain over twenty.
There are also 4 supplementary sections which include a list of the 24 Thomistic theses and some commentary regarding the principles.
Below are the topics and supplementary sections:
1 Act and potency
2 Action and passion
3 Being
4 Cause in general
5 Change
6 Conscience
7 Definitions
8 Distinctions
9 Division
10 Efficient causality
11 End4final cause
12 Evidence
13 Finite and infinite
14 Form and formal cause
15 Formal object
16 Good and evil
17 Habits
18 Hierarchy of being
19 Human acts
20 The human soul
21 Hylemorphism
22 Hypothesis
23 Inferences
24 Knowledge
25 Law
26 Learning and recall
27 Likeness (exemplarism, imitation)
28 Material causality
29 Moral order
30 Rules on the names of God
31 Nature
32 Person
33 Philosophy
34 Predication
35 Property
36 Relations and the relative
37 Rights
38 Society and the state
39 Substance
40 Syllogisms
41 Truth
42 Unity
43 Virtue in general
44 Whole and part
45 Will
Supplement 1 The twenty-four Thomistic theses
Supplement 2 Priority
Supplement 3 Suggested list of basic principles
Supplement 4 Principles disputed among the scholastics
There are exercises throughout with answers provided at the back along with an index of the principles.
The exercises are fine in themselves but what is more helpful are examples (of applications). Apart from the short introductory section, no examples are typically given. Whilst some principles are self-evident, an example provided below each principle is more effective, especially when the text is aimed at students.
Also, for a reference text, it lacks a glossary providing definitions of terms. Despite lacking the abovementioned, this is still a useful and convenient text that lists the principles.
Below are a few examples to give a sense of the text.
From 3 Being:
32 The principle of identity, ontological formula: A In terms of existence: Whatever is, is. B In terms of essence: Everything has its own essence. A thing is what it is. The principle of identity, logical formula: A The true is true; the false is false. B The true is to be affirmed; the false is to be denied.
From 11 End—final cause:
125 The end (that is, the good) is the first principle in the practical order. 126 The end is prior to the means in excellence and in the order of intention.
From 25 Law:
335 The natural law is prior to any positive law, and is the basis and criterion of the justice of all positive laws, confer 337b, 491
From 31 Nature:
424 Every nature is ordered to an end. confer 127 425 Every nature exists for the sake of its operation, confer 150
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