Aquinas's Ontology of Place: Local Motion, Space, and Spatial Location
Title: Aquinas's Ontology of Place: Local Motion, Space, and Spatial Location
Author: Jeffrey Brower
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication Date: July 2026
About the Book: This study presents Thomas Aquinas's Aristotelian theory of physical place, offering an alternative to modern views inspired by Newton and Leibniz. Focusing on underexplored aspects of Aquinas's philosophy including local motion and magnitude, the book examines how bodies exist within the physical universe. In doing so, it provides a comprehensive look at medieval debates on spatial location and demonstrates their ongoing relevance to contemporary philosophy of science and metaphysics.
About the Author: Jeffrey Brower is a professor of philosophy and religious studies. He specializes in medieval philosophy, metaphysics and philosophical theology and especially enjoys working at the intersection of all three areas. He also has interests in medieval and contemporary philosophy of mind, language and ethics.