Medieval Western philosophy Books
Oxford University Press Morality and SelfInterest
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
£34.19
Oxford University Press Hugh of Saint Victor
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
£36.57
Oxford University Press Compendium of Theology
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
£26.12
Clarendon Press Roger Bacon the Origins of Perspectiva in the Middle Ages A Critical Edition English Translation of Bacons Perspectiva with Introduction and Not
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 *
£197.50
Clarendon Press Ibn Taymiyya Against the Greek Logicians
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.
£157.50
Clarendon Press Sextus Empiricus
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.
£57.00
Clarendon Press The Thought of Thomas Aquinas
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 *
£75.05
Oxford University Press The Trinitarian Christology of St Thomas Aquinas
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£28.97
Clarendon Press Emotions in Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
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
£45.60
Oxford University Press Living Without Why
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
£82.65
Oxford University Press Thomas Aquinass Summa Theologiae
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
£34.79
Oxford University Press Some Later Medieval Theories of the Eucharist
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
£71.25
Oxford University Press Metaphysical Themes 12741671
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
£47.02
Oxford University Press, USA thomasaquinasongodandevil
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
£41.79
Oxford University Press Are You Alone Wise
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
£57.00
MIT Press Ltd Philosophy of Love
£27.00
MR - University of Notre Dame Press Demonstration and Scientific Knowledge in William of Ockham
Book SynopsisThis book makes available for the first time an English translation of William Ockham's work on Aristotle's Posterior Analytics, which contains his theory of scientific demonstration and philosophy of science.Trade Review“Longeway's claims are well-considered, and Ockham's influence on early modern philosophy is never far from his mind. His careful translation, compilation of relevant documents, and impressive history of medieval empiricism should interest any scholar studying the history of philosophy of science.” —Journal of the History of Philosophy“Longeway provides not only a very accessible translation but also extensive commentary of his own, including a book-length detailed history of the intellectual contexts of Ockham's Latin Middle Ages. . . . The result is an effective translation of Ockham's seminal work but also what may become a foundational text in intellectual and science history.” —Research Book News“The present work is the result of decades of study of Ockham's philosophy of science. The translation and commentary are introduced by a chapter in which Longeway presents an overview of Ockham's thought in this area and highlights its philosophical significance. This introduction is in its own right a significant contribution to the history of philosophy.” —Owen Goldin, Marquette University“Like much else in medieval philosophy, medieval theories of demonstrative knowledge are historically important, philosophically interesting, and little understood. There are a few extensive studies into medieval discussions of demonstration and even fewer translations of these important discussions. Longeway's translation of Ockham in Demonstration and Scientific Knowledge in William of Ockham is among the few English translations of medieval commentaries on posterior analytics we have and in this way is an important contribution to the field. Longeway's lengthy introductory survey both introduces readers to the development of medieval discussion of Posterior analytics prior to Ockham and situates (historically and philosophically) Ockham's discussion within that development. These translations will be of value to scholars working on a variety of areas on Ockham's thought as well as to scholars interested more generally in medieval theories of demonstration, science, and epistemology.” —Susan Brower-Toland, Saint Louis University
£145.63
University of Notre Dame Press The Prisoners Philosophy
Book SynopsisThe Roman philosopher Boethius (c. 480-524) is best known for the Consolation of Philosophy, one of the most frequently cited texts in medieval literature. In the Consolation, an unnamed Boethius sits in prison awaiting execution when his muse Philosophy appears to him. Her offer to teach him who he truly is and to lead him to his heavenly home becomes a debate about how to come to terms with evil, freedom, and providence. The conventional reading of the Consolation is that it is a defense of pagan philosophy; nevertheless, many readers who accept this basic argument find that the ending is ambiguous and that Philosophy has not, finally, given the prisoner the comfort she had promised.In The Prisoner''s Philosophy, Joel C. Relihan delivers a genuinely new reading of the Consolation. He argues that it is a Christian work dramatizing not the truths of philosophy as a whole, but the limits of pagan philosophy in particular. He views iTrade Review“Going beyond the stance that the Consolation has merely some latent religious convictions, Relihan argues that Boethius is using the resources of Menippean satire to show the limits of pagan philosophy and the need to turn to prayer instead… The present volume is a masterful re-thinking of a classic text that rightfully has an honored place in the philosophical canon. Its thesis is carefully argued and richly deserves a scholarly hearing.” —Journal of the History of Philosophy“Relihan develops the innovative interpretation of Boethius's Consolation of Philosophy that he previously advanced in his Ancient Menippean Satire and elsewhere. . . . Although Relihan's conclusions will be considered radical by many, he offers thoughtful approaches for examining some of the difficulties of the Consolation.” —Choice“Relihan contends that the Consolation is a Menippean satire, which explains its failure in achieving its surface goals, and that the true intention of the work is to temper the arguments of philosophy with Christian sentiments, expressed in biblical allusions at crucial junctures, with liturgical language, and with an emotional and devotional stance.” —Research Book News“. . . a detailed, comprehensive, yet approachable synthesis of the broader philosophical, literary, and historical sources and context of Boethius’s most well-known work. It argues that the Consolation belongs decisively to the genre of Menippean satire, a genre whose primary function, Relihan argues, is to uncover the limits of theoretical knowledge.” —Bryn Mawr Classical Review“Professor Relihan’s The Prisoner’s Philosophy: Life and Death in Boethius’s Consolation has two central theses. The first is that Boethius’s swan song is an important, coherent, complex, and misunderstood philosophical work. The second is that the Consolation is the work of a Christian philosopher, who writes as a Christian.” —American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly“Relihan’s book argues that the Consolation is Menippean satire, a parody of both philosophy and the form of consolation. There is much to admire in this complex and literarily sophisticated reading. The connections it makes—not just to Job but to Matthew’s gospel, to Plato’s Crito, to the book of Esther, and to the Odyssey—appreciably deepen our understanding of the Consolation.” —Religious Studies Review“This text will become one of the most important critical sources for study on the Menippean problem. . . . Relihan makes an important and compelling argument for paying attention to the narrative of the Consolation. . . . Relihan does a valuable service to the reading and teaching of the Consolation. He brings a sense of excitement and even suspense to the text.” —Speculum“Acknowledging that the Consolation of Philosophy is ‘over-familiar and under-read,’ Joel Relihan puts to the side old bromides about the work and instead pays careful attention to the narrative(s) Boethius constructs, grounding his readings in the contexts the work cultivates, especially its Menippean elements. The result is perhaps the first satisfying reading of the Consolation to be produced, a satisfaction felt also in the ways Relihan mirrors Boethius himself in the thoroughness of his scholarship and the elegance of his exposition. No one who studies Boethius will be able to ignore this book.“ —Joseph Pucci, Brown University"Anyone who has been fascinated, intrigued, or perhaps puzzled by the meaning, structure or argument of Boethius' Consolation of Philosophy will find Joel Relihan's new book, The Prisoner's Philosophy: Life and Death in Boethius' Consolation, a welcome addition to the study of this core text of the early medieval world whose influence extends to the present time. Relihan lays out his thesis with scholarly rigor and insight as he argues that the Consolation is a Christian work written to expose the limitations of pagan philosophy but that it is also to be read in the context of the literary genre of the Menippean satire. In other words, the Consolation is philosophic even as it is ironic, erudite even as it is playful. Relihan's study is a tour de force that belongs in the library of all those who appreciate Boethius' depth and subtlety. Fortune's wheel has indeed turned in the favor of those who wish to explore with Relihan the intricacies and brilliance of the Consolation." —Fr. John Fortin, O.S.B., Saint Anselm College“The Prisoner’s Philosophy is an excellent work both of scholarship and of communication in support of a provocative thesis. Relihan and Heise present the Consolation as a new beginning for philosophy within a Christian context—a beginning only rarely appreciated since it enlists philosophy in aid of human affairs and resists the lure of an other worldly escape. Boethius not only despoiled Cynics, Satirists and Neoplatonists of their gold, but also crafted out of it a new Christian realism. Through a close reading of the text and of its reception, Relihan and Heise attend to the challenge that Boethius’ Christian vision and literary genius posed to rationalist conceptions throughout the Middle Ages.” —Paul LaChance, College of Saint Elizabeth
£62.25
Yale University Press Nietzsche and Modern Times
Book SynopsisProvides an interpretation of modern philosophy by developing Nietzsche's view that genuine philosophers set out to determine the direction of culture through their ideas and that they conceal the radical nature of their thought by their esoteric style.
£46.01
Farrar, Straus & Giroux Inc Straw Dogs
Book SynopsisThe British bestseller Straw Dogs is an exciting, radical work of philosophy, which sets out to challenge our most cherished assumptions about what it means to be human. From Plato to Christianity, from the Enlightenment to Nietzsche and Marx, the Western tradition has been based on arrogant and erroneous beliefs about human beings and their place in the world. Philosophies such as liberalism and Marxism think of humankind as a species whose destiny is to transcend natural limits and conquer the Earth. John Gray argues that this belief in human difference is a dangerous illusion and explores how the world and human life look once humanism has been finally abandoned. The result is an exhilarating, sometimes disturbing book that leads the reader to question our deepest-held beliefs. Will Self, in the New Statesman, called Straw Dogs his book of the year: I read it once, I read it twice and took notes . . . I thought it that good. Nothing will get you thinking as m
£15.30
Brill In the Footsteps of the Ancients
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£77.90
Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group Deep Play Vintage
Book SynopsisThe national bestselling author of A Natural History of the Senses tackles the realm of creativity, by exploring one of the most essential aspects of our characters: the ability to play. Deep play is that more intensified form of play that puts us in a rapturous mood and awakens the most creative, sentient, and joyful aspects of our inner selves. As Diane Ackerman ranges over a panoply of artistic, spiritual, and athletic activities, from spiritual rapture through extreme sports, we gain a greater sense of what it means to be in the moment and totally, transcendentally human. Keenly perceived and written with poetic exuberance, Deep Play enlightens us by revealing the manifold ways we can enhance our lives.
£13.29
AuthorHouse Visions Unusual
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£16.50
Springer Nominalism and Contemporary Nominalism
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£85.49
Springer The Speculum Astronomiae and Its Enigma
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£142.49
Springer The Logic of Gersonides
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£123.49
Springer Contingency and Freedom
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£85.49
Springer Scepticism in the History of Philosophy
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£123.49
Springer The Logic of Essentialism
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£123.49
Springer Medieval Philosophy and Modern Times
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£44.99
Springer Medieval Formal Logic
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£85.49
Henry Holt & Company Inc A Small Treatise on the Great Virtues
£21.34
Sophia Perennis et Universalis Man and His Becoming according to the Vedanta Collected Works of Rene Guenon
£18.57
Sophia Perennis et Universalis Man and His Becoming According to the Vedanta Collected Works of Rene Guenon
£27.47
Pearl Publishing, LLC Human RealityWho We Are and Why We Exist
£21.39
Felibri.com Holy Warriors
£20.50
Transcendent Zero Press Ends of the Earth Collected Poems of Charles Bane Jr
£8.26
LEGARE STREET PR Lhomme
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£29.40
LEGARE STREET PR Lhomme
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£21.80
LEGARE STREET PR Philosophy And Civilization In The Middle Ages
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£25.60
LEGARE STREET PR Philosophy And Civilization In The Middle Ages
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£18.95
LEGARE STREET PR Pensées
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£28.45
LEGARE STREET PR Pensées
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£19.90
LEGARE STREET PR Anicii Manlii Severini Boetii Philosophiae Consolationis Libri Quinque
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£25.60
LEGARE STREET PR Anicii Manlii Severini Boetii Philosophiae Consolationis Libri Quinque
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£18.95
LEGARE STREET PR Die Prinzipien der Philosophie
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£26.55
LEGARE STREET PR Die Prinzipien der Philosophie
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£19.95
LEGARE STREET PR Giordano Bruno nella storia della cultura
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£13.95
