Description
Book SynopsisFrom the turn of the fifth century to the beginning of the eighteenth, Christian writers were fascinated and troubled by the "Problem of Paganism," which this book identifies and examines for the first time. How could the wisdom and virtue of the great thinkers of antiquity be reconciled with the fact that they were pagans and, many thought, damned
Trade ReviewOne of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2015 "[An] excellent book... If Marenbon leaves a stone unturned ... I didn't notice it... [He] builds a powerful case."--Peter Adamson, Times Literary Supplement "Fascinating ... Marenbon constantly cuts across the standard discussions at a fresh angle, bringing new connections to light."---Noel Malcolm, Standpoint "This reviewer has been waiting for this book for a long time... [Pagans and Philosophers] is fascinating, exciting, compelling, and well worth the wait."--Choice "Overall this is a magnificent study in the history of ideas, executed with great lucidity and exemplary scholarship."--John Cottingham, The Tablet "Beautifully written, highly interesting (never dry or dull), and deserves a wide readership. It is enthusiastically recommended."--Carole M. Cusack, Speculum
Table of ContentsPreface ix A Note on References and Citations xi Introduction: The Problem of Paganism 1 Part I: The Problem Takes Shape Chapter 1 Prelude: Before Augustine 19 Chapter 2 Augustine 23 Chapter 3 Boethius 42 Part II: From Alcuin to Langland Chapter 4 The Early Middle Ages and the Christianization of Europe 57 Chapter 5 Abelard 73 Chapter 6 John of Salisbury and the Encyclopaedic Tradition 95 Chapter 7 Arabi, Mongolia and Beyond: Contemporary Pagans in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries 109 Chapter 8 Aristotelian Wisdom: Unity, Rejection or Relativism 127 Chapter 9 University Theologians on Pagan Virtue and Salvation 160 Chapter 10 Dante and Boccaccio 188 Chapter 11 Langland and Chaucer 214 Part III: The Continuity of the Problem of Paganism, 1400-1700 Chapter 12 Pagan Knowledge, 1400-1700 235 Chapter 13 Pagan Virtue, 1400-1700 263 Chapter 14 The Salvation of Pagans, 1400-1700 281 Epilogue: Leibniz and China 301 General Conclusion 304 Bibliography 307 Index 339
