The Aesthetical Philosophies of St Thomas Aquinas
The Aesthetics of San Tomasso D’Aquino
The Relevance of The Aesthetics of St. Thomas Aquinas to Contemporary Concept of Art and Beauty
Dean Michael Anthony C. Vasco, PhD Professor, ‘St. Thomas on Critical Thinking’ Majella Antonia Z. Salceda - Tresvalles MFA Candidate University of Sto. Tomas, Graduate Studies March 23, 2011
Majella Salceda-Tresvalles • budji_tresvalles@yahoo.com • UST Graduate School
1
Table of Contents
Preface Introduction Tomasso D’Aquino Medieval Concept of Beauty and Art St. Thomas Aesthetics Contemporary Concepts of Art and Beauty Conclusion
Glossary Bibliography
2 3 5 8 14 19 26
28 29
Majella Salceda-Tresvalles • budji_tresvalles@yahoo.com • UST Graduate School
1
Preface
In writing this paper, I was very much apprehensive by the breath and immensity of the task that was required of me, having no solid education in philosophy or even logic in my undergrad years, my appreciation of the talents and brilliance of St. Thomas Aquinas is just that, appreciation. I cannot begin to think on how to discuss Metaphysics, or Cosmology or even Theodicy, aside from learnings I got from my esteemed Professor, Prof. Michael Anthony C. Vasco, PhD, I am still not confident to discuss those sort of topics. However, with my education as a Fine Arts graduate (Industrial Design major) of the University of Sto. Tomas, have a slight inclination in the area of aesthetics. Being a designer all my professional career and now ‘budding’ artist late in my life, I am interested in the application of the artistic theories of St. Thomas to the present-day aesthetics. I know the task will prove to be not easy with the scarcity of the sources available at my disposal and with St. Thomas not having written a treatise on aesthetics in a single book, I strategized. Whatever shortcomings my paper may have, I apologizing here beforehand. Having based my ideas mostly on published materials and the internet, I am not claiming to have all of it to be
The Relevance of The Aesthetics of St. Thomas Aquinas to Contemporary Concept of Art and Beauty
Dean Michael Anthony C. Vasco, PhD Professor, ‘St. Thomas on Critical Thinking’ Majella Antonia Z. Salceda - Tresvalles MFA Candidate University of Sto. Tomas, Graduate Studies March 23, 2011
Majella Salceda-Tresvalles • budji_tresvalles@yahoo.com • UST Graduate School
1
Table of Contents
Preface Introduction Tomasso D’Aquino Medieval Concept of Beauty and Art St. Thomas Aesthetics Contemporary Concepts of Art and Beauty Conclusion
Glossary Bibliography
2 3 5 8 14 19 26
28 29
Majella Salceda-Tresvalles • budji_tresvalles@yahoo.com • UST Graduate School
1
Preface
In writing this paper, I was very much apprehensive by the breath and immensity of the task that was required of me, having no solid education in philosophy or even logic in my undergrad years, my appreciation of the talents and brilliance of St. Thomas Aquinas is just that, appreciation. I cannot begin to think on how to discuss Metaphysics, or Cosmology or even Theodicy, aside from learnings I got from my esteemed Professor, Prof. Michael Anthony C. Vasco, PhD, I am still not confident to discuss those sort of topics. However, with my education as a Fine Arts graduate (Industrial Design major) of the University of Sto. Tomas, have a slight inclination in the area of aesthetics. Being a designer all my professional career and now ‘budding’ artist late in my life, I am interested in the application of the artistic theories of St. Thomas to the present-day aesthetics. I know the task will prove to be not easy with the scarcity of the sources available at my disposal and with St. Thomas not having written a treatise on aesthetics in a single book, I strategized. Whatever shortcomings my paper may have, I apologizing here beforehand. Having based my ideas mostly on published materials and the internet, I am not claiming to have all of it to be
Bibliography: 3 4 5 Ralph McInerny, Thomas Aquinas: Selected Writings (London: Penguin Books, 1998) p.xxvii Umberto Eco, The Aesthetic of Thomas Aquinas (Milan: Gruppo Editoriale Fabbri, 1970) p versity Press, 1986) pp 85 6 7 8 Ralph McInerny, editor, Thomas Aquinas Selected Writings, (London: Penguin Books, 1998) pp.x Majella Salceda-Tresvalles • budji_tresvalles@yahoo.com • UST Graduate School Medieval Concept of Beauty and Art Gothic Cathedral in Lyon, France (Photo Credit: Majella Salceda-Tresvalles, 2008) Steve Shipps, (Re)Thinking ‘Art’: A Guide for Beginners (USA: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2008) pp. 4 Eco, Aesthetic of Thomas Aquinas, pp.3 Majella Salceda-Tresvalles • budji_tresvalles@yahoo.com • UST Graduate School