Medieval Western philosophy Books

Book SynopsisThe French author Michel de Montaigne is widely regarded as the founder and greatest practitioner of the personal essay. A member of the minor aristocracy, he worked as a judicial investigator, served as mayor of Bordeaux, and sought to bring stability to his war-torn country during the latter half of the sixteenth century. He is best known today, however, as the author of the Essays, a vast collection of meditations on topics ranging from love and sexuality to freedom, learning, doubt, self-scrutiny, and peace of mind. One of the most original books ever to emerge from Europe, Montaigne''s masterpiece has been continuously and powerfully influential among writers and philosophers from its first appearance down to the present day. His extraordinary curiosity and discernment, combined with his ability to mix thoughtful judgment with revealing anecdote, make him one of the most readable of all writers. In Montaigne: A Very Short Introduction, William M. Hamlin provides an overview of Montaigne''s life, thought, and writing, situating the Essays within the arc of Montaigne''s lived experience and focusing on themes of particular interest for contemporary readers. Designed for a broad audience, this introduction will appeal to first-time students of Montaigne as well as to seasoned experts and admirers. Well-informed and lucidly written, Hamlin''s book offers an ideal point of entry into the life and work of the world''s first and most extraordinary essayist.Trade ReviewWilliam Hamlin has given those first encountering Montaigne a rich and varied picture of the sixteenth-century author. * Vittoria Fallanca, New College, Oxford, French Studies *This compact new study by William Hamlin, professor of English at Washington State and specialist on the English reception of Montaigne, was written for the Oxford series of Very Short Introductions, which claims over 650 titles,...All students and teachers of Montaigne should be grateful to William Hamlin for the thorough justice he does to one of the greatest achievements of our literary tradition. * Eric Macphail, Indiana University *Table of Contents1. Writing Oneself 2. Montaigne's Life 3. Learning for Living 4. Friendship, Family, Love 5. Free and Sociable Solitude 6. America 7. Providential Diversity 8. Skepticism 9. Death and the Good Life References Further Reading

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Book SynopsisThe bestselling history of and investigation into human error by beloved New Yorker writer Kathryn Schulz“Both wise and clever, full of fun and surprise about a topic so central to our lives that we almost never even think about it.”—Bill McKibben, author of Earth: Making a Life on a Tough New PlanetIn the tradition of The Wisdom of Crowds and Predictably Irrational, Being Wrong explores what it means to be in error, and why homo sapiens tend to tacitly assume (or loudly insist) that they are right about most everything. Kathryn Schulz argues that error is the fundamental human condition and should be celebrated as such. Guiding the reader through the history and psychology of error, from Socrates to Alan Greenspan, Being Wrong will change the way you perceive screw-ups, both of the mammoth and daily variety, forever.

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Book SynopsisIn Utopia Thomas More painted a fantastical picture of a distant island where society is perfected and people live in harmony, yet its title means ''no place'', and More''s hugely influential work was ultimately an attack on his own corrupt, dangerous times, and on the failings of humanity. Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are.

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Book Synopsis''It remains astonishingly radical ... one of Utopia''s most striking aspects is its contemporaniety'' Terry EagletonIn Utopia, Thomas More gives us a traveller''s account of a newly-discovered island where the inhabitants enjoy a social order based on natural reason and justice, and human fulfilment is open to all. As the traveller describes the island, a bitter contrast is drawn between this rational society and the practices of Europe. How can the philosopher reform his society? In his discussion, More takes up a question first raised by Plato and which is still a challenge in the contemporary world. In the history of political thought few works have been more influential than Utopia, and few more misunderstood.Translated and introduced by Dominic Baker-Smith

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewOne of his masterpieces . . . without doubt a great novel * Observer *At the medieval monastery of Mariabronn, the restless Goldmund realises he isn't cut out for a cloistered life under the tutelage of his friend and mentor, the ascetic Narziss, and so begins a series of travels that see him work his way through most of the seven deadly sins before finding a psychic resolution of sorts in an apprenticeship to a master sculptor. Only by feeding his appetite for worldly experience does Goldmund finally find the courage to face death. * The Guardian 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read *

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Book SynopsisThis Handbook is intended to show the links between the philosophy written in the Middle Ages and that being done today. Essays by over twenty medieval specialists, who are also familiar with contemporary discussions, explore areas in logic and philosophy of language, metaphysics, epistemology, moral psychology ethics, aesthetics, political philosophy and philosophy of religion. Each topic has been chosen because it is of present philosophical interest, but a more or less similar set of questions was also discussed in the Middle Ages. No party-line has been set about the extent of the similarity. Some writers (e.g. Panaccio on Universals; Cesalli on States of Affairs) argue that there are the closest continuities. Others (e.g. Thom on Logical Form; Pink on Freedom of the Will) stress the differences. All, however, share the aim of providing new analyses of medieval texts and of writing in a manner that is clear and comprehensible to philosophers who are not medieval specialists. The HaTrade ReviewEdited by Marenbon, this volume succeeds remarkably well in its attempt to be a state-of-the-art overview of analytic approaches to medieval philosophy. * CHOICE *Table of ContentsIntroduction. Making the Case for Medieval Philosophy, John Marenbon ; I. A Survey of Medieval Philosophy ; 1. The Late Ancient Background to Medieval Philosophy, John Marenbon ; 2. Greek philosophy, Borje Byden and Katerina Ierodiakonou ; 3. Arabic Philosophy before Avicenna, Peter Adamson ; 4. Avicenna and Afterwards, Nadja Germann ; 5. Averroes and Philosophy in Islamic Spain, Matteo Di Giovanni ; 6. Jewish Philosophy in Arabic, Charles Manekin ; 7. Jewish Philosophy in Hebrew, Steven Harvey ; 8. Latin Philosophy to 1200, Christophe Erismann ; 9. Latin Philosophy 1200-1350, Russell Friedman ; 10. Latin philosophy 1350-1550, John Marenbon ; 11. Medieval philosophy after the Middle Ages, Jacob Schmutz ; II. Issues in Medieval Philosophy ; Logic and Philosophy of Language ; 12. Logical Form, Paul Thom ; 13. Propositional Logic, Christopher J. Martin ; 14. Modality, Simo Knuuttila ; 15. Theories of Meaning, Margaret Cameron ; 16. Mental Language, Martin Lenz ; Metaphysics and Epistemology ; 17. Universals, Claude Panaccio ; 18. Being, Gyula Klima ; 19. States of Affairs, Laurent Cesalli ; 20. Parts, Wholes, and Identity, Andrew Arlig ; 21. Material Substance, Henrik Lagerlund ; 22. Mind and Hylomorphism, Robert Pasnau ; 23. Body and Soul, Peter King ; 24. Eternity, Taneli Kukkonen ; 25. Skepticism, Dominik Perler ; Moral Psychology, Ethics, Political Philosophy and Aesthetics ; 26. Freedom of the Will, Thomas Pink ; 27. Moral Intention, Ian Wilks ; 28. Virtue and Law, Terence Irwin ; 29. Natural Law, Anthony Lisska ; 30. Rights, Cary Nederman ; 31. Aesthetics, Andreas Speer ; Philosophy of Religion ; 32. Arguments for the Existence of God, Graham Oppy ; 33. Philosophy and the Trinity, Richard Cross

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Book SynopsisVery Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, InspiringThis book provides an introduction to the most important philosopher of the Islamic world, Ibn Sina, often known in English by his Latinized name Avicenna. After introducing the man and his works, with an overview of the historical context in which he lived, the book devotes chapters to the different areas of Ibn Sina''s thought. Among the topics covered are his innovations in logic, his theory of the human soul and its powers, the relation between his medical writings and his philosophy, and his metaphysics of existence. Particular attention is given to two famous arguments: his flying man thought experiment and the so-called demonstration of the truthful, a proof for the existence of God as the Necessary Existent. A distinctive feature of the book is its attention to the relationship between Ibn Sina and Islamic rational theology (kalam): in which we see how Ibn Sina responded to this tradition in many areas of his thought. A final chapter looks at Ibn Sina''s legacy in both the Islamic world and in Latin Christendom. Here Adamson focuses on the critical responses to Ibn Sina in subsequent generations by such figures as al-Ghazali, al-Suhrawardi, and Fakhr al-Din al-Razi.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewA distinctive feature of the book is its attention to the relationship between Ibn Sīnā and Islamic rational theology (kalām): in which we see how Ibn Sīnā responded to this tradition in many areas of his thought. * Morteza Hajizadeh, Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. *Table of Contents1: Life works 2: Logic epistemology 3: Human person 4: Physics 5: God and world 6: Legacy Further reading Index

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Book SynopsisOxford Studies in Medieval Philosophy showcases the best new scholarly work on philosophy from the end of antiquity into the Renaissance. OSMP combines historical scholarship with philosophical acuteness, and will be an essential resource for anyone working in the area.Table of ContentsArticles Christina Van Dyke: 'Lewd, Feeble, and Frail': Humility Formulae, Medieval Women, and Authority Daniel Davies and Alexander Lamprakis: Al-FārābĪ's Commentary on the Eighth Book of Aristotle's Topics in Ṭodros Ṭodrosi's Philosophical Anthology (Introduction, Edition of the Text, and Annotated Translation) Reginald Mary Chua: Aquinas, Analogy and the Trinity Can Laurens Löwe: Super-Causes, Super-Grounds, and the Flow of Powers: Three Medieval Views on Natural Kinds and Kind-Specific Powers John Morrison: Three Medieval Aristotelians on Numerical Identity and Time Boaz Faraday Schuman: Multiple Generality in Scholastic Logic Critical Notices Nicolas Faucher: A Review of David Piché, Épistémologie et psychologie de la foi dans la pensée scolastique (1250-1350) Sonja Schierbaum: A Dance with the Rebel Angels: Tobias Hoffmann's View on the Free Will Debate Briefly Noted

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Book SynopsisHistories you can trust.The Renaissance is one of the most celebrated periods in European history. But when did it begin? When did it end? And what did it include?Traditionally regarded as a revival of classical art and learning, centred upon fifteenth-century Italy, views of the Renaissance have changed considerably in recent decades. The glories of Florence and the art of Raphael and Michelangelo remain an important element of the Renaissance story, but they are now only a part of a much wider story which looks beyond an exclusive focus on high culture, beyond the Italian peninsula, and beyond the fifteenth century.The Oxford History of the Renaissance tells the cultural history of this broader and longer Renaissance: from seminal figures such as Dante and Giotto in thirteenth-century Italy, to the waning of Spain''s ''golden age'' in the 1630s, and the closure of the English theatres in 1642, the date generally taken to mark the end of the English literary Renaissance.Geographically, the story ranges from Spanish America to Renaissance Europe''s encounter with the Ottomansand far beyond, to the more distant cultures of China and Japan. And thematically, under Gordon Campbell''s expert editorial guidance, the volume covers the whole gamut of Renaissance civilization, with chapters on humanism and the classical tradition; war and the state; religion; art and architecture; the performing arts; literature; craft and technology; science and medicine; and travel and cultural exchange.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition [This] is a book that will not disappoint. Whether readers are well-versed in the field of Renaissance studies or simply have a casual interest in this fascinating subject, they will find much to enjoy. Though the concepts discussed are far from simplistic, the tone is highly readable. This book will be a welcome addition to any library on the subject. * All About History *Based on the latest historical research but aimed at the general reader, the Oxford "Histories" have maintained a very high standard over the years. This volume, edited by the great Renaissance scholar, Gordon Campbell, certainly maintains the Oxford University Press reputation for excellence. * Ed Voves, Art Eyewitness *Table of ContentsIntroduction Gordon Campbell: The Renaissance 1: Peter Mack: Humanism and the Classical Tradition 2: David Parrott: War and the State: c. 1400-1650 3: Stella Fletcher: Religion 4: Paula Nuttall and Richard Williams: The Civilisation of the Renaissance 5: Francis Ames-Lewis: Art and Architecture: Italy and Beyond 6: Paula Nuttall and Richard Williams: Art and Architecture: Flanders and Beyond 7: Margaret McGowan: The Performing Arts: Festival, Music, Drama, Dance 8: Warren Boutcher: Vernacular Literature 9: Pamela Long, Andrew Morrall: Craft and Technology in Renaissance Europe 10: Paula Findlen: The Renaissance of Science 11: Peter Burke and Felipe Fernández-Armesto: The Global Renaissance Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisThe Renaissance has long been recognized as a brilliant moment in the development of Western civilization. However, little attention has been devoted to the distinct contributions of philosophy to Renaissance culture. This volume introduces the reader to the philosophy written, read, taught, and debated during the period traditionally credited with the `revival of learning''. The authors examine the relation of Renaissance philosophy to humanism and the universities, the impact of rediscovered ancient sources, the recovery of Plato and the Neoplatonists, and the evolving ascendancy of Aristotle. Renaissance Philosophy also explores the original contributions of major figures including Bruni, Valla, Ficino, Pico della Mirandola, Pomponazzi, Machiavelli, More, Vitoria, Montaigne, Bruno, and Campanella. Renaissance Philosophy demonstrates the uses of ancient and medieval philosophy by Renaissance thinkers, and throws light on the early modern origins of modern philosophy.Trade ReviewFor those, philosophers and historians of ideas alike, who wish to enlarge their understanding of these complex patterns of influence, Renaissance Philosophy provides a comprehensive and richly documented guide. * TLS *a brilliantly successful piece of work * Renaissance Philosophy *the wealth of information in this book is amazing * THES *Table of Contents1. The Historical Context of Renaissance Philosophy ; 2. Aristotelianism ; 3. Platonism ; 4. Stoics, Sceptics, Epicureans, and Other Innovators ; 5. Nature against Authority: Breaking Away from the Classics ; 6. Renaissance Philosophy and Modern Memory ; Bibliography; Index

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Book SynopsisThis book offers a provocative interpretation of the theory of the soul in the writings of the French Cartesian, Nicolas Malebranche (1638-1715). Though recent work on Malebranche''s philosophy of mind has tended to emphasize his account of ideas, Schmaltz focuses rather on his rejection of Descartes'' doctrine that the mind is better known than the body. In particular, he considers and defends Malebranche''s argument that this rejection has a Cartesian basis. Schmaltz reveals that this argument not only provides a fresh perspective on Cartesianism but also is relevant to current debates in the philosophy of mind.Trade Review"Schmaltz's book...comes as a welcome addition to the Malebranche literature; that he has given us such a well-researched and carefully argued study is even more welcome....this is an excellent book....Schmaltz has given us an excellently researched and carefully analyzed account of an important aspect of the thought of one of the leading philosophers of the seventeenth century."--The Philosophical Review"A very fine piece of scholarship, and displays real philosophical acumen as well....An original and stimulating discussion....It makes a solid and important contribution to early modern scholarship."--Steven Nadler, University of Wisconsin, Madison

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This volume provides a brief and accessible introduction to the 9th-century philosopher and theologian John Scottus Eriugena, who was perhaps the most important philosophical thinker to appear in Latin Christendom in the period between Augustine and Anselm. Eriugena was known as the interpreter of Greek thought to the Latin West, particularly as teacher to Frankish emperor Charles the Bald, and this book emphasizes the relation of Eriugena''s thought to his Greek and Latin sources, while also looking at his speculative philosophy.

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Book SynopsisThe nature and content of the thought of Duns Scotus (c.1266-1308) remains largely unknown except by the expert. This book provides an accessible account of Scotus''s theology, focusing both on what is distinctive in his thought, and on issues where his insights might prove to be of perennial value.Trade Reviewparticularly welcome, as it is the first comprehensive treatment of Duns Scotus's theology in English ... This little book is a remarkabel achievement. * Giorgio Pini, Religious Studies, Vol. 37 *This little book is not easy reading, but is definitely worth the effort. Cross is to be thanked especially because he does not conceal the difficulty of the subject, and infects the reader with the desire to study Scotus's work directly, which is indeed the mark of a successful introduction. * Giorgio Pini, Religious Studies, Vol. 37 *in a few pages Cross manages to cover many different and difficult issues. This is indeed a great merit ... Cross's analytical skilfulness is always rewarding. * Giorgio Pini, Religious Studies, Vol. 37 *Table of Contents1.: Duns Scotus, philosophy, and theology 2.: God: existence, unicity, and simplicity 3.: God: perfection, infinity, and religious language 4.: God: knowledge and agency 5.: God the Trinity 6.: Humanity: body, soul, and immortality 7.: Humanity: freedom, ethics, and sin 8.: Humanity: predestination, merit, and grace 9.: Jesus: God and man 10.: Jesus: predestination and merit 11.: Sacraments Additional notes Bibliography Index locorum General index

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Book SynopsisThis will be a brief, accessible introduction to the lives and thought of two of the most controversial personalities of the Middle Ages. Abelard and Heloise are familiar names. It is their star quality, argues Constant Mews, that has prevented them from being seen clearly in the context of 12th-century thought - that task he has set himself in this book. He contends that the dramatic intensity of these famous lives needs to be examined in the broader context of their shared commitment to the study of philosophy.Trade Review"Mews argues convincingly that Heloise was not merely an apt pupil but an intelletual peer who changed Abelard's thinking, particularly in ethics."--CHOICE "Mews shows that Heloise and Abelard's literary partnership went far beyond love letters.... Mews has done us a great service in examining Heloise not just as a lover but as a writer, liturgical collabortaor, and theological thinker in her own right."--Books&Culture "A beautifully detailed historical account of the two figures." --Speculum

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Book SynopsisThe relationship between morality and self-interest is a perennial one in philosophy, at the center of moral theory. It goes back to Plato''s Republic, which debated whether living morally was in a person''s best interest or simply for dupes. Hobbes also claimed that morality was not in the best interests of the individual; Kant, however, thought that morality ought to be followed anyway even if it was not in a person''s interest. Aristotle, Hume, Machiavelli, and Nietzsche all had much to say on the subject, and contemporary philosophers like Thomas Nagel and David Gauthier discuss it a good deal as well. Little of the contemporary work has been published in book format however. Bloomfield''s edited volume is the first such book truly devoted to this important topic, presenting brand new, commissioned articles on this subject by some of the top philosophers working today. Bloomfield provides an introduction to the topic and its place in philosophical history in his introduction. The vTrade Reviewinformed scholarship and rich analyses of important issues ... Bloomfield is to be commended for putting together a fine collection. * John Lemos, Mind *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION ; BIBLOGRAPHY

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Trade Review[Rorem's] breadth of scholarship, his devotion to and love of his subject material, his depth of insight and his clarity of expression all contribute towards making the reading of this book an inspiring and rewarding enterprise ... This book will be of great interest for students of medieval thought, for those interested in the development of Christian pedagogy and for all who have embarked on the spiritual quest. * Paul Rout, Theology *Table of ContentsFOREWORD BY BRIAN DAVIES; PREFACE; ABBREVIATIONS; APPENDIX: HUGH AND DIONYSIUS; THE COMMENTARY ON THE CELESTIAL HIERARCHY; BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Book SynopsisTowards the end of his life, St. Thomas Aquinas produced a brief, non-technical work summarizing some of the main points of his massive Summa Theologiae. This ''compendium'' was intended as an introductory handbook for students and scholars who might not have access to the larger work. It remains the best concise introduction to Aquinas''s thought. Furthermore, it is extremely interesting to scholars because it represents Aquinas''s last word on these topics. Aquinas does not break new ground or re-think earlier positions but often states them more directly and with greater precision than can be found elsewhere. There is only one available English translation of the Compendium (published as ''Aquinas''s Shorter Summa: Saint Thomas''s Own Concise Version of his Summa Theologiae,'' by Sophia Institute Press). It is published by a very small Catholic publishing house, is marketed to the devotional readership, contains no scholarly apparatus. Richard Regan is a highly respected Aquinas traTable of ContentsPreface Biblical Abbreviations Other Abbreviations Introduction Compendium of Theology Main Text Glossary Index of Persons General Index

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Book SynopsisGeoffrey of Aspall, who died in 1287 and was master of Arts by 1262, was active at Oxford in the years 1255 to1265. He wrote commentaries on several Aristotelian works, and was certainly a major protagonist of the introduction of Aristotelian learning to Oxford. In particular, he produced a very extensive question-style commentary on Aristotle''s Physics, which contains important discussions of the fundamental topics of Aristotle''s natural philosophy, like matter, form, natural agency, causes, change, the infinite and the continuum, time, the eternity of the world, self-movers. Aspall''s Physics commentary shows the influence of Grosseteste''s metaphysics of light and of Roger Bacon''s view on the physical role of intentional species, as well as a strong inclination to ontological realism.Aspall''s commentary on Aristotle''s Physics is edited here in two volumes, which together form the first critical edition of this work. The Latin text is accompanied by a facing English translation,Trade ReviewThis is an accurate, erudite and stringent translation of Geoffrey of Aspall's question-style commentary of Aristotle's Physics. * Jason Wakefield, Avello Publishing Journal *...a rich and interesting book...This excellent Latin edition and lucid accompanying English translation will undoubtedly serve researchers fro generations to come. * Boaz Faraday Schuman, The Journal of Medieval Latin *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1: Life and works of Geoffrey of Aspall 2: The Questions on the Physics 3: Manuscript tradition and editorial principles 4: Presentation of the text 5: The main doctrinal points of Geoffrey of Aspall's Questions on the Physics Bibliography QUAESTIONES SUPER PHYSICAM, LIBRI I-IV, VIII (Recensio O) Tabula quaestionum / List of questions LIBER I / BOOK I LIBER II / BOOK II LIBER IV / BOOK IV LIBER III / BOOK III LIBER VIII / BOOK VIII

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Book SynopsisGeoffrey of Aspall, who died in 1287 and was master of Arts by 1262, was active at Oxford in the years 1255 to1265. He wrote commentaries on several Aristotelian works, and was certainly a major protagonist of the introduction of Aristotelian learning to Oxford. In particular, he produced a very extensive question-style commentary on Aristotle''s Physics, which contains important discussions of the fundamental topics of Aristotle''s natural philosophy, like matter, form, natural agency, causes, change, the infinite and the continuum, time, the eternity of the world, self-movers. Aspall''s Physics commentary shows the influence of Grosseteste''s metaphysics of light and of Roger Bacon''s view on the physical role of intentional species, as well as a strong inclination to ontological realism.Aspall''s commentary on Aristotle''s Physics is edited here in two volumes, which together form the first critical edition of this work. The Latin text is accompanied by a facing English translation,Trade Review...a rich and interesting book...This excellent Latin edition and lucid accompanying English translation will undoubtedly serve researchers fro generations to come. * Boaz Faraday Schuman, The Journal of Medieval Latin *Table of ContentsAPENDIX

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Book SynopsisThe book provides the first critical edition of the Dialogus written in Latin by William of Ockham in the 14th century. The dialogue is Ockham's chief work on political philosophy which engages with questions of property rights, natural law, and the theory of nation-states.

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Book SynopsisThis is the first great commentary in the Western European tradition of expounding Aristotle's Metaphysics. Rufus addresses questions such as 'what is truth?' `what is matter?', 'what are numbers?', `how do corruptible and incorruptible substances differ?', and `how do sensible objects act on the soul?'.Table of ContentsAbbreviations Introduction Scriptum in Metaphysicam Aristotelis Proem Liber I Liber II Liber III Liber IV Liber V Liber VI Indices

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Book SynopsisStephen Langton (c.1228), later Archbishop of Canterbury, was a prominent master of theology, belonging to the first generation of scholars working at the faculty of theology of the nascent University of Paris. The Quaestiones Theologiae constitute his chief speculative work. Book III, volume 1, offers a critical edition of 24 disputed questions on Christology and faith. Each question is accompanied by a critical apparatus and source notes. The edition is preceded by an extensive analysis of Langton''s views. The volume also contains an important supplement to the study of the whole manuscript tradition of Langton''s QQuaestiones Theologiae and offers the first general stemma codicum of the Quaestiones.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Abbreviations and Editorial Policies Introduction Overview 1: Christology 2: Faith 3: Philological Introduction 4: List of Stemmata Codicum 5: Quaestiones Theologiae - Liber III, Tomus 1 Extra Indicem Bibliography Analytical Index Index of Names Biblical Index

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Book SynopsisStephen Langton, later Archbishop of Canterbury and the famous signatory of Magna Carta, was a prominent intellectual, belonging to the first generation of scholars working at the faculty of theology of the nascent University of Paris. The I^Quaestiones Theologiae constitute his chief speculative work. Book III, volume 3, offers a critical edition of 42 disputed questions about ethics. A critical apparatus and rich source notes accompany each text. The edition is preceded by an extensive analysis of Langton''s selected ethical theories, concerning, among other issues, mendacity (lying, perjury, hypocrisy, fraud), moral dilemmas (double bind), obedience, and avoiding suffering. In addition, the introduction analyses Langton''s discussion of some logical issues, such as I^propositio implicita and ampliatio.

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Book SynopsisA critical edition and facing-page translation, accompanied by substantial analytical introduction and notes, of Perspectiva by Roger Bacon, a foundational text of modern optics written in about 1260, which defined the subject for the next 350 years.Trade ReviewThe bibliographic details will convince any well-educated historian that this book should be available in all good libraries. So indeed it should. The advent of microfilm has helped the editor to make full use of many more manuscripts than his predecessors, with consequent benefit to the authority of the resulting text ... for anyone frivolous or serious enough to plunge straight into the main text, it is very good indeed, with scholarly notes providing hand-holds and water wings. * J. V. Field, Medical History, Oct. 1997 *

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Book SynopsisThe introduction of Greek philosophy into the Muslim world left an indelible mark on Islamic intellectual history. Philosophical discourse became a constant element in even traditionalist Islamic sciences. However, Aristotelian metaphysics gave rise to doctrines about God and the universe that were found highly objectionable by a number of Muslim theologians, among whom the fourteenth-century scholar Ibn Taymiyya stood foremost. Ibn Taymiyya, one of the greatest and most prolific thinkers in medieval Islam, held Greek logic responsible for the `heretical'' metaphysical conclusions reached by Islamic philosophers, theologians, mystics, and others. He therefore set out to refute philosophical logic, a task which culminated in one of the most devastating attacks ever levelled against the logical system upheld by the early Greeks, the later commentators, and their Muslim followers. His argument is grounded in an empirical approach that in many respects prefigures the philosophies of the BTrade Review'It is to the credit of Professor Wael B. Hallaq ... to have provided the English-speaking public with such a competent and readable translation of a key text of Islamic civilization. That the work carries the insignia of Clarendon Press, Oxford is a further testimony of its enduring value. Apart from students of Muslim thought, specialists in philosophies and historians of logic are sure to benefit from this sterling effort. Indeed, it should prove to be of equal interest to all the critics, Muslims or otherwise, of modern science.' S. Parvez Manzoor, Muslim World Book Review 15, no. 2, 1995Hallaq has performed a valuable service in carrying out this translation...he has produced a clear, judicious and attractive version...This is in every way an excellent book. Hallaq has written what will surely be the standard work in the area for some time to come. * Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. *A major survey of Ibn Taymiyyah and logic ... Hallaq'a volume is the ideal introduction to the whole field of Ibn Taymiyyah, logic and the philosophers ... a fluent, scholarly and well-organised translation ... a fresh and attractive addition to the growing corpus of literature on Islamic logic and its complexities. * Journal of Semitic Studies *This work, Professor Hallaq's most recent, is almost unique to modern studies of Ibn Taymiyah and for this readon deserves our attention. Hallaq has proved an enormously capable writer in his field. ... His profound grasp of the discussions in medieval Arabic works on logic is evident here and in that regard it is an important book. * Mamluk Studies Review, 1, 1997 *Table of ContentsPart 1 Introduction: Ibn Taymiyya's opponents and his refutation of the logicians; sources of the critique; Ibn Taymiyya's discourse; the Arabic texts; notes on the translation. Part 2 "Jahd al-Qariha fi Tajrid al-Nasiha": concerning the logicians' doctrine that no concept can be formed except by means of definition; concerning the logicians' doctrine that definition leads to the conception of things; concerning the logicians' doctrine that no judgement may be known except by means of syllogism; concerning the logicians' doctrine that syllogism or demonstration leads to the certain knowledge of judgements.

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Book SynopsisAbout Sextus: Sextus Empiricus is one of the most important ancient philosophical writers after Plato and Aristotle. His writings are our main source for the doctrines and arguments of Scepticism. He probably lived in the second century AD. Eleven books of his writings have survived, covering logic, physics, ethics, and numerous more specialized fields. About Against the Ethicists: In this unjustly neglected and misunderstood work Sextus sets out a distinctive Sceptic position in ethics. He discusses the concepts good and bad, and puts forward the sceptical argument that nothing is either good or bad by nature or intrinsically or invariably, but only relatively to persons and/or to circumstances. He then argues that the sceptic is better off than the non-sceptic. In the latter part of the book, Sextus attacks the Stoic view that there is such a thing as a ''skill for life''. About this edition: This volume contains a translation of Against the Ethicists into clear modern English, togeTrade ReviewBett shows himself as a good philologist, his translation is precise and based on a diligent evaluation of the text variants. It is also very clear and very good to read. * J.Opsomer, Les Etudes Classiques, University of Namur, Vol.68. *'a great deal of philosophical and philological scholarship will be foundan excellent job of tracking down Sextus's sources and his targets.' Journal of the History of Philosophy'an excellent translation of and commentary on Sextus Empiricusa detailed and informative treatment of the book as a whole and of individual arguments within it.' Bob Sharples, Phronesis'it would be appropriate for anyone interested in skepticism, whether ancient or modern, to use this careful and useful book.' Julia Annas, The Philosophical Review'every student of Pyrrhonism will want this commentary for its detailed criticisms of Sextus' arguments.' Charles Brittain, Ancient Philosophy'This translation and commentary...will certainly become the standard edition of this important text for the forseeable future.' Marcelo D. Boeri, Manuscrito'Bett's work is a distinguished addition to the literature on skepticism.' Lloyd P. Gerson, Bryn Mawr Classical ReviewThis excellent and admirable volume contains an English translation with copious notes and commentary of Sextus Empiricus' most extensive discussion of ethical theory ... It is in all respects an exemplary production. The translation, occupying the first thirty-nine pages, is excellent ... and generally capturing Sextus' dry, and sometimes drily witty philosophical prose ... B. has put an immense amount of thought into every line of Sextus, and the translation and commentary reflect that ... All in all a first-rate production, which should be taken as a model for future members of its genre. * Tad Brennan, Journal of Hellenic Studies 119 (1999). *Sextus' work Against the Ethicists has long suffered from a lack of consideration by students of Pyrrhonism. Richard Bett's meticulous translation and commentary sets out to rectify this scholarly discourtesy by a careful analysis of Sextus' arguments and an accurate and concise exposition of his opponents' doctrines. Bett's treatment of textual matters.. is a model of concision. His grasp and presentation of the mainly Stoic doctrines dealt with... appears unerring... every student of Pyrrhonism will want this commentary for its detailed criticisms of Sextus' arguments. * Charles Brittain, Ancient Philosophy 19, 1999 *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION; AGAINST THE ETHICISTS: TRANSLATION; COMMENTARY; APPENDICES; BIBLIOGRAPHY; INDEXES.

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Book SynopsisThomas Aquinas was one of the greatest Western philosphers and one of the greatest theologians of the Christian church. In this book we at last have a modern, comprehensive presentation of the total thought of Aquinas. Books on Aquinas invariably deal with either his philosophy or his theology. But Aquinas himself made no arbitrary division between his philosophical and his theological thought, and this book allows readers to see him as a whole. It introduces the full range of Aquinas'' thinking; and it relates his thinking to writers both earlier and later than Aquinas himself.Trade Review`Like his master he balances the counterweighted demands of analysis and synthesis, of philosophy and theology, of history and science. In short, this book is the best of its type in English ... The Thought of Thomas Aquinas will be hailed as a great tribute to his master's genius.' Gregorianum, Vol 75 (1994)`wide-ranging and ... readable. ... it is accurate, accessible, and a thoroughly up-to-date account of the current state of scholarly debate ... It has a very helpful bibliography for the many readers who, while welcoming Davies's book as an overview of the subject, would like to pursue particular issues in more detail.' Heythrop Journal`It is primarily an introduction to the thought of Aquinas aimed at students of philosophy and theology. ... The book is thorough and economical.' Choice Nov'92`beautifully produced ... a clear and reliable work of reference for anyone who seeks a serious introduction to the thought of Thomas Aquinas.' Times Higher Education Supplement`While based on a wide scholarly bibliography, the approach is refreshingly straightforward ... the student, the scholar, the preacher and the general reader alike will find in it fresh perspectives on the intellectual and pastoral concerns of the great Dominican.' Expository Times`Brian Davies's book is at once timely and most welcome ... he is particularly well placed to offer an authoritative account of Aquinas's thought to an English speaking audience. This volume is aimed more at the general reader, who will appreciate accuracy and a clear overview of what is going on. Davies writes in a style which is clear, readable, and free of unnecessary jargon. He illustrates the more difficult points simply and helpfully. His readings of Aquinas are a distillation of contemporary scholarship, accurate and well-controlled. The book is an excellent introduction to the saint, philosopher and theologian who founded the great tradition of Dominican theology.' Gerard J. Hughes SJ, The Month, June 1992`This book is a remarkable achievement. It brings alive a man about whose life we really know very little beyond the bare bones of his movements; and makes accessible a body of thought and writing which can seem forbidding to the modern reader.' New Blackfriars, May 1992'a well-balanced exposition that takes the positive and negative sides in Aquinas' thought with equal seriousness ... The book is likely to establish itself quickly as a standard reference work.' David Brown, University of Durham, Theology'It is primarily an introduction to the thought of Aquinas aimed at students of philosophy and theology. The book is thorough and economical.' E. Peters, University of Pennsylvania, Choice, Nov '92'The book is an intellectually serious yet very accessible introduction to Aquinas which will be useful for undergraduates and still offer scholars much to think about and argue with ... Davies's lucid and straightforward exposition of Aquinas' views seems to dissolve many problems.' John Jenkins, Journal of Theological Studies, Vol. 44, No. 1, April 1993'His survey will interest general readers as well as professional philosophers and theologians.' Theology Digest, Volume 40, No. 1, Spring 1993'His survey will interest general readers as well as professional philosophers and theologians.' Theology Digest, Vol. 40, No. 1, Spring 1993'scholarly and certainly very much in touch with much recent philosophical and theological scholarship on the topics it treats' Kenneth Konyndyk, The Cresset, September 1993'this book is very much the work of a philosopher who is at home in both the scholastic and the contemporary analytic traditions ... He is clearly a highly sympathetic expositor who often goes to considerable pains to eliminate misunderstandings of Aquinas.' The Innes Review, Volume XLV, No. 1'very much in touch with recent philosophical and theological scholarship on the topics it treats.' Kenneth Konyndyk, The Cresset'This is a remarkable piece of work. The author writes well, with unusual clarity, showing a rare gift for making the thought of St Thomas understandable to the contemporary reader who is not a Thomist...admirable positive contribution of this masterly exposition of the vast sweep of St Thomas's thought for contemporary thinkers, laid out in such clear and accessible style.' W Norris Clarke,SJ, International Philosophical Quarterly, Vol XXXIV, No 1, March 1994'A warm and wide welcome may be expected for this book of remarkable clarity and comprehensiveness. The thought of Aquinas has been veiled by the increasing ignorance of Latin, of Church history and of theology, for a good generation now. This book will help to remove some of that ignorance, and perhaps even dispel some prejudice as well.' Bulletin de Théol. Anc. et Méd. - Janv.-Déc. 1993'the coverage is wide, and shows the subtlety with which an outstanding mind deals with such central problems as: God and His relation to Creation ... the amply documented account shows the relevance of St Thomas today - doubtless practising Christians will find his thoughts profitable for a deeper understanding of their faith.' P.A. Monaghan, University of Exeter, Theological Book Review, Vol. 6, No. 3, June 1994comprehensive presentation of Aquinas's total thought * Bibliographie de la Philosophie, 1-2-1994 *'...Many of his explicit interlocutors are contemporary English philosophers, and Davies seeks to set Thomas among them. For many readers this will be a strength of the book...' * Pro Ecclesia, Vol.VI, No.4 *

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Book SynopsisOxford Studies in Medieval Philosophy showcases the best scholarly research in this flourishing field. The series covers all aspects of medieval philosophy, including the Latin, Arabic, and Hebrew traditions, and runs from the end of antiquity into the Renaissance. It publishes new work by leading scholars in the field, and combines historical scholarship with philosophical acuteness. The papers will address a wide range of topics, from political philosophy to ethics, and logic to metaphysics. OSMP is an essential resource for anyone working in the area.Table of ContentsCRITICAL NOTICE ; DISCUSSION

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Book SynopsisOxford Studies in Medieval Philosophy showcases the best new scholarly work on philosophy from the end of antiquity into the Renaissance. OSMP combines historical scholarship with philosophical acuteness, and will be an essential resource for anyone working in the area.Table of ContentsARTICLES; CRITICAL NOTICE; DISCUSSION

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Book SynopsisEmotions are the focus of intense debate both in contemporary philosophy and psychology and increasingly also in the history of ideas. Simo Knuuttila presents a comprehensive survey of philosophical theories of emotion from Plato to Renaissance times, combining rigorous philosophical analysis with careful historical reconstruction. The first part of the book covers the conceptions of Plato and Aristotle and later ancient views from Stoicism to Neoplatonism and, in addition, their reception and transformation by early Christian thinkers from Clement and Origen to Augustine and Cassian. Knuuttila then proceeds to a discussion of ancient themes in medieval thought, and of new medieval conceptions, codified in the so-called faculty psychology from Avicenna to Aquinas, in thirteenth century taxonomies, and in the voluntarist approach of Duns Scotus, William Ockham, and their followers. Philosophers, classicists, historians of philosophy, historians of psychology, and anyone interested in emTrade ReviewThe book offers a comprehensive, accurate, and textually supported description of the philosophical views of emotion from the fifth century BC to the fifteenth century AD. The wealth of references to primary sources, coupled with the consciousness in the presentation of numerous theoretical accounts, makes the monograph an ideal point of reference for the study of ancient and medieval approaches to emotion ... the book is, I believe, of interest to anyone currently working in the philosophy of emotions * Anthony Hatzimoysis, Mind *Knuutilla's book steers with a sure hand over the rough waters of the philosophical debates of ancient and medieval thought. * Anthony Hatzimoysis, Mind *Knuuttila has done an immense amount of research, covering an extraordinarily wide variety of sources ... it will be a fine resource for any who wish to see how ideas of the soul, and the place of emotions and other faculties and powers in it, evolved from classical antiquity to the high Middle Ages. It is the work of a scholar very much at home in the mediaeval scholastic tradition, who brings to the task a deep understanding of the kinds of reasoning in which these thinkers were engaged. Knuuttila's book will be an excellent starting point for any future investigations of the history of the emotions. * David Konstan, Bryn Mawr Classical Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Emotions in Ancient and Medieval Philosophy; 2. Emotions and the Ancient Pursuit of Christian Perfection; 3. Medieval Conceptions of Emotions from Abelard to Aquinas; 4. Emotions in Fourteenth-Century Philosophy; Bibliography; Index

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Book SynopsisWhat does it mean to live without why? This was the advice of Meister Eckhart (ca. 1260-1328), both in his Latin treatises to philosophers and theologians and in his German sermons to nuns and ordinary lay persons. He seems to have meant that we should live and act out of justice or goodness and not in order to gain some reward for our deeds. This message was received with indignation by the Church hierarchy and was condemned by the Pope in 1329. How did Eckhart come to formulate it? And why was it so controversial?John M. Connolly addresses these questions by locating Eckhart''s thinking about how to live within the mainstream synthesis of Christian and classical thought formulated in the High Middle Ages. He calls the classical Greek moral consensus teleological eudaimonism, according to which correct living coincides with the attainment of happiness (eudaimonia). This involves living a life marked by the practice of the virtues, which in turn requires a consistent desire for the corTrade ReviewConnolly offers a fair and scholarly treatment of one of medieval Europe's most controversial philosophers, who challenged the very authority of the Catholic Church. This work is well written, if synoptic at times, and leads the reader through a rich historical, theological and philosophical journey through the medieval conception of the will as it developed from Aristotle and the classical Greek philosophers, all the way to Meister Eckhart and beyond. Moreover, it generally does a good job of analyzing the almost indiscernible and more obvious variations amongst the philosophies being addressed. Connolly's specialty in Eckhartian studies is apparent through his scholarly treatment of a plethora of medieval thinkers, and his mastery over the primary sources in their original medieval High German. * Blake Campbell, British Journal for the History of Philosophy *Connolly's book, by highlighting the importance of the end of man in Eckhart's thought and by putting it in its philosophical and theological context, is always illuminating in its treatment of the great mystic. * Robert Dobie, Review of Metaphysics *All in all, this is a very welcome and careful study. It will shed much light on a neglected person and a neglected topic. * Journal of the History of Philosophy *As John Connolly states in the preface to this book, he is 'fascinated' by Meister Eckhart's advice to 'live without why (or will)'. And it is this palpable fascination pulsing off the book's pages that at once helps to illuminate the philosophical underpinnings of the Eckhartian concept, as it infectiously draws the reader deeper into the riches of this text. As a scholar of Christian spirituality, and someone also smitten by the Meister's treatment of sunder warumbe, but not a trained philosopher, I find this book to be nothing short of a boon. * Medieval Mystical Theology *This book is a signal contribution to ancient and medieval philosophy. By putting Eckhart into conversation with his predecessors (i.e., Aristotle, Augustine, and Aquinas), Connolly does a fine job in identifying where Eckhart makes an original-and still viable-contribution to moral thought in general. This is a remarkable work, the product of long and careful thought, as well as being clearly presented. * Bernard McGinn, Naomi Shenstone Donnelley Professor Emeritus of Historical Theology and of the History of Christianity in the Divinity School and the Committees on Medieval Studies and on General Studies, University of Chicago *It would appear that Connolly has written the right book at the right moment. Through his work, the English-speaking world can become finally acquainted with the academic discussion of the last decades concerning Eckhart and can furthermore have an original and text grounded interpretation of a relevant section of his philosophical thought. * Loris Sturlese, Professor of Medieval Philosophy, Universita del Salento *Table of ContentsPREFACE ; ABBREVIATIONS ; INTRODUCTION ; CHAPTER ONE: The Will as "Rational Appetite" ; CHAPTER TWO: Aristotle's Teleological Eudaimonism ; CHAPTER THREE: St. Augustine's Christian Conception of Will ; CHAPTER FOUR: Aquinas on Happiness and the Will ; CHAPTER FIVE: Meister Eckhart, Living on Two Levels ; CHAPTER SIX: Meister Eckhart, Living Without Will ; CHAPTER SEVEN: Living without Why, Conclusion ; NOTES ; BIBLIOGRAPHY ; INDEX

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Book SynopsisFollowing a scholarly account of Thomas Aquinas''s life, Davies explores his purposes in writing the Summa Theologiae and works systematically through each of its three Parts. He also relates their contents and Aquinas''s teachings to those of other works and other thinkers both theological and philosophical. The concluding chapter considers the impact Aquinas''s best-known work has exerted since its first appearance, and why it is still studied today. Intended for students and general readers interested in medieval philosophy and theology, Davies''s study is a solid and reflective introduction both to the Summa Theologiae and to Aquinas in general.Trade ReviewThorough, well organized, and supplemented with copious notes and pie charts that give a visual breakdown of the philosophical and theological subjects covered in the Summa ... those looking for a comprehensive and accessible companion to Aquinass Summa could do no better * Choice *Davies has magisterially breathed a new life into the ancient and honourable genre of commentary on Aquinas's masterpiece, the Summa Theologiae. The commentary tradition is alive and well in the twenty-first century. * Bernard McGinn, Philosophical Investigations *Brian Davies takes the reader on a guided tour of the vast demesne of the Summa Theologiae with a lucid and patient commentary. He writes for the intelligent reader without any formal training in either philosophy or theologythe kind of audience, he believes, that St. Thomas himself had in mind. Nonetheless, his book contains a number of surprises even for those who are familiar with the landscape. * Anthony Kenny, author of the fourth-volume series New History of Western Philosophy *Most of us engaged in studying Christian theology would of course say that Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologiae is a classic, an essential text, which we should all read and re-read. The truth is, however, that, while the clarity of the arguments and the systematic presentation are very attractive, most newcomers and even old hands need a good deal of help to keep going: no one is better qualified than Brian Davies, after years of teaching and writing about it, to guide us: the study of the Summa will be greatly facilitated and enriched by this excellent commentary. * Fergus Kerr, OP, Honorary Fellow, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh *Table of ContentsPreface ; 1. Setting the Summa Theologiae ; 2. Sacred Teaching (1a,1) ; 3. Knowing That God Exists (1a,1,2) ; 4. The Divine Nature: Part 1 (1a,3-13) ; 5. The Divine Nature: Part 2 (1a,14-26) ; 6. The Divine Trinity (1a,27-43) ; 7. Creation, Good, and Evil (1a,44-49) ; 8. Angels and the Days of Creation (1a,50-74) ; 9. Human Beings and Divine Government (1a,75-119) ; 10. Happiness, Human Action, and Morality (1a2ae,1-21) ; 11. Emotions (1a2ae,22-48) ; 12. Dispositions, Virtues, Gifts, Beatitudes and Fruits (1a2ae,49-70) ; 13. Sin (1a2ae,71-85) ; 14. Law, Old Law, New Law, and Grace (1a2ae,90-114) ; 15. Faith, Hope, and Charity (2a2ae,1-46) ; 16. Prudence, Justice, and Injustice (2a2ae,47-79) ; 17. Religion and Other Matters to do With Justice (2a2ae,80-122) ; 18. Courage and Temperance (2a2ae,123-170) ; 19. Freely Given Graces, Kinds of Life, and States of Life (2a2ae,171-189) ; 20. God Incarnate (3a,1-26) ; 21. The Life, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension of Christ (3a,27-59) ; 22. The Sacraments of the Christian Church (3a,60-90) ; 23. Epilogue ; Appendix: The Summa Theologiae at a Glance ; Bibliography ; Index

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Book Synopsis`For I do not seek to understand so that I may believe; but I believe so that I may understand. For I believe this also, that unless I believe, I shall not understand.'' Does God exist? Can we know anything about God''s nature? Have we any reason to think that the Christian religion is true? What is truth, anyway? Do human beings have freedom of choice? Can they have such freedom in a world created by God? These questions, and others, were ones which Anselm of Canterbury (c.1033-1109) took very seriously. He was utterly convinced of the truth of the Christian religion, but he was also determined to try to make sense of his Christian faith. Recognizing that the Christian God is incomprehensible, he also believed that Christianity is not simply something to be swallowed with mouth open and eyes shut. For Anselm, the doctrines of Christianity are an invitation to question, to think, and to learn. Anselm is studied today because his rigour of thought and clarity of writing place him among the greatest of theologians and philosophers. This translation provides readers with their first opportunity to read all of his most important works within the covers of a single volume. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Table of ContentsINCLUDES: LETTER TO ARCHBISHOP LANFRANC; MONOLOGIAN; PROSLOGION; PRO INSIPIENTE ON BEHALF OF THE FOOL) BY GAUNILO OF MARMOUTIERS; REPLY TO GAUNILO; ON TRUTH; ON FREE WILL; ON THE FALL OF THE DEVIL; ON THE INCARNATION OF THE WORD; WHY GOD BECAME MAN; ON THE VIRGIN CONCEPTION AND ORIGINAL SIN; ON THE PROCESSION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT; DE CONCORDIA (THE COMPATIBILITY OF GOD'S FOREKNOWLEDGE, PREDESTINATION AND GRACE WITH HUMAN FREEDOM; DE GRAMMATICO; PHILOSOPHICAL FRAGMENTS; INDEX

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Book SynopsisBoethius composed the De Consolatione Philosophiae in the sixth century AD whilst awaiting death under torture, condemned on a charge of treason which he protested was manifestly unjust. Though a convinced Christian, in detailing the true end of life which is the soul''s knowledge of God, he consoled himself not with Christian precepts but with the tenets of Greek philosophy. This work dominated the intellectual world of the Middle Ages; writers as diverse as Thomas Aquinas, Jean de Meun, and Dante were inspired by it. In England it was rendered in to Old English by Alfred the Great, into Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer, and later Queen Elizabeth I made her own translation. The circumstances of composition, the heroic demeanour of the author, and the ''Menippean'' texture of part prose, part verse have combined to exercise a fascination over students of philosophy and literature ever since. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade ReviewProbably the best history and, indeed philosophy book of all time * Bettany Hughes The Times *

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Book SynopsisHow can the Body and Blood of Christ, without ever leaving heaven, come to be really present on eucharistic altars where the bread and wine still seem to be? Thirteenth and fourteenth century Christian Aristotelians thought the answer had to be transubstantiation. Acclaimed philosopher, Marilyn McCord Adams, investigates these later medieval theories of the Eucharist, concentrating on the writings of Thomas Aquinas, Giles of Rome, Duns Scotus, and William Ockham, with some reference to Peter Lombard, Hugh of St. Victor, and Bonaventure. She examines how their efforts to formulate and integrate this theological datum provoked them to make significant revisions in Aristotelian philosophical theories regarding the metaphysical structure and location of bodies, differences between substance and accidents, causality and causal powers, and fundamental types of change. Setting these developments in the theological context that gave rise to the question draws attention to their understandings Trade Reviewessential for all interested in the religious and intellectual history of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. * Stephen Mossman, Medium Aevum *There are few books that are as careful in its detail and as cosmic in its scope as Adams's Some Later Medieval Theories of the Eucharist: Thomas Aquinas, Giles of Rome, Duns Scotus, and William Ockham. I heartily recommend it to anyone interested in understanding the nature of Christ's presence among us. * David Efird, Mind *Table of ContentsPROLOGUE ; Introduction ; 1. Aristotelian Preliminaries ; I: WHY SACRAMENTS? ; 2. What, Why, and Wherefore ; 3. Sacramental Causality: 'Effecting What They Figure!' ; II: THE METAPHYSICS AND PHYSICS OF REAL PRESENCE ; 4. Explaining the Presence, Identifying the Change: Aquinas and Giles of Rome ; 5. Duns Scotus on Placement Problems ; 6. Duns Scotus on Two Types of Transsubstantiation ; 7. Remodelling with Ockham ; 8. Accidents without Substance: Aquinas and Gilles of Rome ; 9. Independent Accidents: Scotus and Ockham ; 10. Theology Provoking Philosophy ; III: WHAT SORT OF UNION? ; 11. Eucharistic Eating and Drinking ; 12. Sacraments, Why Ceasing? ; POST-SCRIPT ; List of Numbered Propositions ; Bibliography

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Book SynopsisRobert Pasnau traces the developments of metaphysical thinking through four rich but for the most part neglected centuries of philosophy, running from the thirteenth century through to the seventeenth. At no period in the history of philosophy, other than perhaps our own, have metaphysical problems received the sort of sustained attention they received during the later Middle Ages, and never has a whole philosophical tradition come crashing down as quickly and completely as did scholastic philosophy in the seventeenth century. The thirty chapters work through various fundamental metaphysical issues, sometimes focusing more on scholastic thought, sometimes on the seventeenth century. Pasnau begins with the first challenges to the classical scholasticism of Bonaventure and Thomas Aquinas, runs through prominent figures like John Duns Scotus and William Ockham, and ends in the seventeenth century, with the end of the first stage of developments in post-scholastic philosophy: on the continTrade ReviewReaders with a keen interest in metaphysics and a doughty historical stamina will find Pasnau's book rewarding. * Anthony Kenny, Times Literary Supplement *Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671 is truly a magnificent achievement ...It contains historical scholarship and philosophical argumentation in a very well balanced mix in order to present the reader with a true sense of the historical position held as well as a subtle philosophical assessment of the correctness of these views. It is history of philosophy at its very best ...Pasnau's work is invaluable to anyone dealing with the history of this time period as well as anyone interested in the metaphysics of substance. * Henrik Lagerlund, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *an absolute must for all those interested either in medieval or in early modern philosophy, as well as a highly instructive and inspiring reading for contemporary students of metaphysics. * Claude Panaccio, Mind *Table of ContentsI. MATTER; II. SUBSTANCE; III. ACCIDENTS; IV. EXTENSION; V. QUALITY; VI. UNITY AND IDENTITY

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Book SynopsisRenowned Aquinas scholar Brian Davies offers the first in-depth study of the saint's thoughts on God and evil, revealing that Aquinas's thinking about God and evil can be traced through his metaphysical philosophy, his thoughts on God and creation, and his writings about Christian revelation and the doctrines of the Trinity and the Incarnation.Trade ReviewHe has produced a book for a wide range of readers on perhaps the most difficult question people pose about God ... Davies has produced a remarkable book. * Jeff Phillips, Theology Vol. 116 *[Davies] is an experienced and lucid guide * Times Literary Supplement *Table of ContentsAbbreviations ; Preface ; 1. The Problem of Evil ; 2. Aquinas, Philosophy, and Theology ; 3. What There Is ; 4. Goodness and Badness ; 5. God the Creator ; 6. God's Perfection and Goodness ; 7. The Creator and Evil ; 8. Providence and Grace ; 9. The Trinity and Christ ; 10. Aquinas on God and Evil ; Bibliography ; Index

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Book SynopsisThe topic of certitude is much debated today. On one side, commentators such as Charles Krauthammer urge us to achieve moral clarity. On the other, those like George Will contend that the greatest present threat to civilization is an excess of certitude. To address this uncomfortable debate, Susan Schreiner turns to the intellectuals of early modern Europe, a period when thought was still fluid and had not yet been reified into the form of rationality demanded by the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.Schreiner argues that Europe in the sixteenth century was preoccupied with concerns similar to ours; both the desire for certainty -- especially religious certainty -- and warnings against certainty permeated the earlier era. Digging beneath overt theological and philosophical problems, she tackles the underlying fears of the period as she addresses questions of salvation, authority, the rise of skepticism, the outbreak of religious violence, the discernment of spirits, and the ambiguousTrade ReviewWith characteristic breadth of mind and vision, Schreiner combines deep knowledge and understanding of the overlapping fields of theology, philosophy, spirituality, culture and literature in order to project a history of the erratic human mind. Such an adventurous, interdisciplinary approach is often vulnerable to exposure of superficiality and pretentiousness, but happily not in her case. Every sentence she writes is formed in a way that conveys illumination to the reader. * Ian Hazlett, Professor of Ecclesiastical History, University of Glasgow. *This immensely interesting and thoughtful book places the quest for 'certainty' at the center of that era historians have recently come to call 'early modern.' A sensitive reader of texts, whether theological or literary, Schreiner places Protestant and Catholic reformers, Renaissance humanists and dramatists, and philosophical and literary skeptics on the same stage, all probing the same unsettling questions about human ends and how we can come to know them with any certitude. This is a book all students of early modern European history will have to come to terms with. * John Van Engen, author of Sisters and Brothers of the Common Life: The Devotio Moderna and the World of the Later Middle Ages *Susan Schreiner's study of the search for certainty offers a masterful perspective on a central and many-faceted problem of the early modern era. The book is characterized by a mastery of sources primary and secondary and by profound insight into the intellectual and cultural transitions from the Middle Ages into modernity, ranging from philosophical problems of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, to Luther and Tyndale in the early Reformation, to Montaigne and Shakespeare at the end of the sixteenth century. This is a rich, rewarding, and highly significant study. * Richard A. Muller, P. J. Zondervan Professor of Historical Theology, Calvin Theological Seminary *Table of ContentsI: Beginnings: Questions and debates in the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Centuries ; II: "Abba! Father!": The Certainty of Salvation ; III: "The spiritual man judges all things": The Certainty of Exegetical Authority ; IV: Are You Alone Wise?: The Catholic Response ; V: Experientia: The Great Age of the Spirit ; VI: Unmasking the Angel of Light: The Discernment of the Spirits ; VII: "Men should be what they seem": Appearances and Reality ; Conclusion

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Book SynopsisThrough an interview and sixteen essays, this title explores key intersections of medieval religion and philosophy. It focuses less on individual Christian, Jewish, and Muslim thinkers than on their relationships with one another.Trade Review"This truly is an informative, engaging, and very readable book that will be very useful to anyone with an intellectual interest in things medieval." (Choice) "Highly recommended to scholars of the Middle Ages as well as those in philosophy and religion more generally. They will all be enlightened by careful reading of this book." (Library Journal)"

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Book SynopsisThrough an interview and sixteen essays, this title explores key intersections of medieval religion and philosophy. It focuses less on individual Christian, Jewish, and Muslim thinkers than on their relationships with one another.Trade Review"This truly is an informative, engaging, and very readable book that will be very useful to anyone with an intellectual interest in things medieval." (Choice) "Highly recommended to scholars of the Middle Ages as well as those in philosophy and religion more generally. They will all be enlightened by careful reading of this book." (Library Journal)"

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Book SynopsisRevises the history of medieval imagination with a detailed analysis of its role in the period's meditations and theories of cognition. This title examines Bonaventure's meditational works, the Meditationes vitae Christi, the Stimulis amoris, Piers Plowman, and Nicholas Love's Myrrour, among others.Trade Review"A learned and well-written book about the philosophy of imagination and the late-medieval practice of devotional meditation. Karnes's argument is powerful and convincing, and makes a valuable addition to a lively field in current medieval studies." (Nicholas Watson, Harvard University)"

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Book SynopsisBegins by taking up the ancient philosophical notion that the world is composed of two fundamental opposites: atoms, as the philosopher Epicurus theorized, intrinsically unchangeable and moving about the void; and, the void itself, or nothingness.Trade Review"An excellent and beautifully written book, The Lucretian Renaissance narrates fiendishly tricky, obscure, and complex matter normally accessible only to the erudite - philologists, Renaissance scholars, and historians of the book - with the lightness of touch of a storyteller." (James I. Porter, University of California, Irvine)"

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Book SynopsisIt is hard to think of two philosophers less alike than St. Thomas Aquinas and Jean-Paul Sartre. Aquinas, a thirteenth-century Dominican friar, and Sartre, a twentieth-century philosopher and atheist, are separated by both time and religious beliefs. Yet, for philosopher Joseph S. Catalano, the two are worth bringing together for their shared concern with a fundamental issue: the uniqueness of each individual person and how this uniqueness relates to our mutual dependence on each other. When viewed in the context of one another, Sartre broadens and deepens Aquinas's outlook, updating it for our present planetary and social needs. Both thinkers, as Catalano shows, bring us closer to the reality that surrounds us, and both are centrally concerned with the place of the human within a temporal realm and what stance we should take on our own freedom to act and live within that realm. Catalano shows how freedom, for Sartre, is embodied, and that this freedom further illuminates Aquinas's notTrade Review"This book demonstrates Catalano's wide background and extensive life experience with both key philosophical concepts and their practical relevance as he addresses topics including good faith, the universal singular, and the pervasiveness of freedom in the actions of human beings. Catalano has created a coherent yet wide-ranging collection of ideas, presented in a way that is attractive and accessible to a broad reading public. The Saint and the Atheist is the unique product of a seasoned philosopher eager to share his philosophical reflections with an audience that extends well beyond the borders of professional philosophy."--William McBride, author of From Yugoslav Praxis to Global Pathos: Anti-Hegemonic Post-Post-Marxist Essays "In a profound effort to think with and through Sartre and Aquinas, Catalano works out an original and reconstructive reading of these odd bedfellows, one that moves us well beyond both 'the atheist' and 'the saint.' Catalano's emphatic commitment to a corporeal understanding of the human experience is vivid throughout, and his philosophical imagination is rigorous, nuanced, and often poetic. He is, as he has always been, exceptionally good at giving the reader immediate insight into seemingly impenetrable philosophical terms, thanks not least to the power and clarity of his thinking and the inviting and open-textured quality of his writing. Among its many merits, and perhaps above all, The Saint and the Atheist asks the reader to slow down and think--to think hard about things that matter; to think with challenging figures such as Aquinas and Sartre, among many others; to think along with Catalano, too; and, most importantly, to think for oneself."--Matthew Ally, author of Ecology and Existence: Bringing Sartre to the Water's EdgeTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. The Cast 2. Becoming Acquainted 3. Introducing Good Faith 4. Good Faith 5. Our Twofold Birth 6. From Child to Adult 7. Sartre’s Studies of Flaubert and Genet 8. Lying to Oneself 9. On Being an Author 10. The Value of Universals in Our Lives 11. Universality and Personality 12. My Time, Your Time, the World’s Time 13. Half-Time: The Battle over the Sex of Angels 14. On Truth: A First Glance 15. Pursuing Truth 16. The Truth of Our Present History: Scarcity 17. Our World 18. Our One World 19. Influencing the World: Action and Praxis 20. Intentionality and Methodology Conclusion: The Meaning of Life Appendix 1. Edith Stein Appendix 2. Hitler, the Vatican, and Donald Trump Notes Index

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Book SynopsisGiordano Bruno (1548-1600) is one of the great figures of early modern Europe, and one of the least understood. This biography establishes him once and for all as a peer of Erasmus, Shakespeare, and Galileo - a thinker whose vision of the world prefigures ours.Trade Review"Whatever else Bruno was, he was wild-minded and extreme, and Rowland communicates this, together with a sense of the excitement that his ideas gave him.... It's that feeling for the explosiveness of the period, and Rowland's admiration of Bruno for participating in it - indeed, dying for it - that is the central and most cherishable quality of the biography." - Joan Acocella, New Yorker "Rowland tells this great story in moving, vivid prose, concentrating as much on Bruno's thought as on his life.... His restless mind, as she makes clear, not only explored but transformed the heavens." - Anthony Grafton, New York Review of Books "Bruno seems to have been an unclassifiable mixture of foul-mouthed Neapolitan mountebank, loquacious poet, religious reformer, scholastic philosopher, and slightly wacky astronomer." - Anthony Gottlieb, New York Times Book Review "A marvelous feat of scholarship.... This is intellectual biography at its best." - Peter N. Miller, New Republic "An excellent starting point for anyone who wants to rediscover the historical figure concealed beneath the cowl on Campo de' Fiori." - Paula Findlen, Nation "A loving and thoughtful account of Bruno's life and thought, satires and sonnets, dialogues and lesson plans, vagabond days and star-spangled nights.... Ingrid D. Rowland has her reasons for preferring Bruno to Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, Johannes Kepler, even Galileo and Leonardo, and they're good ones." - John Leonard, Harper's"

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Book SynopsisLeo Strauss argued that the most visible fact about Machiavelli's doctrine is also the most useful one: Machiavelli seems to be a teacher of wickedness. In his critical appreciation of "The Prince" and the "Discourses on the First Ten Books of Livy", Strauss explains his thoughts.Table of ContentsPreface Introduction I: The Twofold Character of Machiavelli's Teaching II: Machiavelli's Intention: The Prince III: Machiavelli's Intention: The Discourses IV: Machiavelli's Teaching Notes Index

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