The McCabe Reader - by Brian Davies (Paperback)

About the Book

Herbert McCabe OP was one of the most intelligent Roman Catholic thinkers of the 20th century, whose writings have enjoyed enormous and welcome success. A significant influence on philosophers such as Anthony Kenny and Alasdair McIntyre, McCabe also counted amongst his friends Seamus Heaney and Terry Eagleton, and moved amongst the literary elite. His wide personal interests are reflected in his writings, which cover a broad range of topics. In this reader we glimpse an insight into the workings of a brilliant mind occupied by topics including the philosophy of God and Christian doctrine, ethics and moral theology, the problem of evil, the philosophical theology of St Thomas Aquinas, the traditional catholic concern for prayer, liturgy, Mary and St Dominic. Further musings reflect on issues that interested McCabe the most - philosophy of God, Christology, fundamental and sacramental theology, and ethics. Edited by Brian Davies and Paul Kucharski, two well known McCabe specialists, the selection is a gem which will be of use to any reader interested in comprehending the key issues for a thoughtful life, and also includes some of McCabe's most dazzling sermons.

Book Synopsis

Herbert McCabe OP was one of the most intelligent Roman Catholic thinkers of the 20th century, whose writings have enjoyed enormous and welcome success. A significant influence on philosophers such as Anthony Kenny and Alasdair McIntyre, McCabe also counted amongst his friends Seamus Heaney and Terry Eagleton, and moved amongst the literary elite. His wide personal interests are reflected in his writings, which cover a broad range of topics. In this reader we glimpse an insight into the workings of a brilliant mind occupied by topics including the philosophy of God and Christian doctrine, ethics and moral theology, and Thomas Aquinas, the problem of evil, the philosophical theology of St Thomas Aquinas, the traditional catholic concern for prayer, liturgy, Mary and St Dominic. Further musings reflect on issues that interested McCabe the most - philosophy of God, Christology, fundamental and sacramental theology, and ethics.

Edited by Brian Davies and Paul Kucharski, two well known McCabe specialists, the selection is a gem which will be of use to any reader interested in comprehending they key issues for a thoughtful life, and also includes some of McCabe's most dazzling sermons.

Review Quotes

"Now readers of this generation will be able to imbibe Thomas from Herbert, as we all did: from the master among us to our master Thomas, to the Master whose word suffuses the prose. We discover how exciting and surprising that is, as we relish a wit and prose we wish we could deliver ourselves--without envy, in sheer delight. Astute editors waste no time plunging us into the metaphysics of divine action, where we quickly learn how speaking of God outstrips ordinary prose." - Theological Studies

"There are many more good things in The McCabe Reader which I must pass over, so I conclude that the set of sermons here published indicates that McCabe must have been a very exciting preacher, able to recall in a few simple words some of the truths about love, freedom, and mere humanity on which he has elaborated in [this book]." - Review of Metaphysics

About the Author

Brian Davies is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Fordham University, USA.

Paul Kucharski is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Manhattanville College in New York, USA