Aquinas on Beauty and Umberto Eco’s Interpretation

Abstract The Italian semiotician and novelist Umberto Eco (1932–2016) offered an insightful interpretation of Thomas Aquinas’ thought on beauty. Eco’s book, translated into English in 1988, is considered an authoritative source of reflection on the subject and has been widely cited by those who have focused on Aquinas’ aesthetics in recent decades. In this article, I first assess the depth and richness of Eco’s interpretation, including his critique of Aquinas’ view. I then reject this critique by arguing that Aquinas’ reflection on beauty is grounded in his theological interests, the connections between which and his aesthetic views are overlooked by Eco.