It seems particularly appropriate that the study should be published at the same time as the English translation of Thomas' De Malo, a life long work of Jean and John Oesterle. Appreciation is expressed to Notre Dame University Press for permission to cite from St. Thomas Aquinas, On Evil, trans. by Jean Oesterle.

Thanks is owed to Dr. George F. McLean without whose help and encouragement the present work would never have been contemplated, let alone completed. Special thanks are extended also to Mrs. Bonnie Kennedy and Ms. Hu Yeping for their tireless work in the preparation and typesetting of this manuscript.