Mirabilis Dubitatio: Understanding Formal Production in Thomas Aquinas and its Role in his Metaphysics of Esse

Amid the so-called crisis of metaphysicsof the last several hundred years, philosophers in the 20th century re-encountered and began a reappreciation of the mediaeval thought of Thomas Aquinas. This crisis can be traced, at least in part, to modern Western philosophys rejection of a specifying or formal cause in metaphysical analysis. Drawing from Aristotle of Stagira, Aquinas placed the formal cause on prominent display as the foundation for his metaphysics of esse. Yet nowhere did St. Thomas offer a systematic presentation of the key elements for this central doctrine. In response to this absence, Mirabilis dubitatio presents the reader with the doctrines fundamental passages gleaned from Aquinass entire opera omnia, as well as a systematic analysis of the doctrine which Aquinas himself called, a topic of wondrous difficulty. Kaisers work argues this central feature of Aquinass thought the formal cause must be reintegrated into any metaphysical analysis in the 21st century. Such a reintegration can only begin through a presentation and understanding of Aquinass coherent account as presented here. See more