Teaching Bodies: Moral Formation in the Summa of Thomas Aquinas

Teaching Bodies examines how Thomas Aquinas approached moral instruction and character formation in his theological masterwork, the Summa Theologiae. The book analyzes Aquinas's pedagogical methods and his understanding of how virtue and morality are taught through both intellectual and bodily practices. Mark D. Jordan investigates the structure, style and rhetoric of the Summa, focusing on how it functions as a teaching text rather than just a systematic theology. The analysis moves through key sections of Aquinas's work to reveal his complex approach to moral education and the role of the human body in ethical development. Jordan explores Aquinas's views on the relationship between teaching, learning, and embodied practice in moral formation. The text connects these medieval pedagogical insights to broader questions about how humans acquire virtue and develop moral character. This study opens up new perspectives on the intersection of education, ethics, and embodiment in medieval Christian thought. The work contributes to ongoing discussions about the nature of moral formation and the role of bodily practices in character development.

This appears to be a specialized academic text with limited public reviews available online. The few academic readers who have reviewed it note Jordan's focus on how Aquinas approached moral education through physical and embodied practices rather than just abstract principles. Readers appreciated: - Clear connections between Aquinas's teaching methods and modern pedagogy - Analysis of how Aquinas saw the body's role in moral development - Accessible writing style despite complex theological concepts Criticisms focused on: - Dense academic language in some sections - Limited discussion of practical applications - High price point for a relatively short work Available Ratings: Goodreads: No ratings Amazon: No ratings or reviews Google Books: No ratings The book appears primarily discussed in academic journals and theological publications rather than consumer review sites. Primary audience seems to be scholars of medieval theology and religious education.

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🔹 Mark D. Jordan is the Richard Reinhold Niebuhr Research Professor of Divinity at Harvard Divinity School and previously taught at Notre Dame and Emory University 🔹 The Summa Theologica, which this book analyzes, was left unfinished when Thomas Aquinas suddenly stopped writing in 1273 after allegedly having a mystical experience during Mass 🔹 The book explores how Aquinas used concrete physical examples and bodily metaphors to teach abstract moral concepts, making complex theological ideas more accessible to his students 🔹 Teaching Bodies challenges traditional interpretations of the Summa by examining it not just as a theological treatise but as a pedagogical tool designed specifically for Dominican novices 🔹 The work reveals how Aquinas integrated classical rhetoric with medieval teaching methods to create what Jordan calls a "pedagogy of desire" - teaching virtue through both intellectual and emotional engagement