Contra Gentiles, Vol. 4

The Summa Contra Gentiles is in the unique position of a classic, of which the author's manuscript is still in great part extant. There are two ways of behaving towards Thomas' writings, analogous to several treatments of a church still standing in which the saint might have worshiped. One way is to hand the edifice over to some Society for the Preservation of Ancient Monuments; they will keep it locked to the vulgar, while admitting some occasional connoisseur: they will do their utmost to preserve every stone identically the same that the medieval builder laid. The other is to explore, respond, and remunerate the various avenues expounded upon by such a mind. All his works, which have been ushered into modern speech, along with their conclusions, must be tested by all the subtleties of present-day science—physical, psychological, historical—maintained, wherever maintainable, but altered, where no longer tenable.