Medieval Philosophy
Essential Readings with Commentary
Blackwell Readings in the History of Philosophy
1. Edition June 2007
408 Pages, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISBN:
978-1-4051-3564-1
John Wiley & Sons
This collection of readings with extensive editorial commentary
brings together key texts of the most influential philosophers of
the medieval era to provide a comprehensive introduction for
students of philosophy.
* * Features the writings of Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Boethius,
John Duns Scotus and other leading medieval thinkers
* Features several new translations of key thinkers of the
medieval era, including John Buridan and Averroes
* Readings are accompanied by expert commentary from the editors,
who are leading scholars in the field
Text Sources and Credits.
Acknowledgments.
General Introduction.
Part I: Logic and Epistemology.
Introduction.
Philosophy, Theology, Logic, and the Sciences.
1. Augustine on Ancient Philosophy.
2. Dialectica Monacensis (anonymous, twelfth century) on
the Division of Science.
3. Thomas Aquinas on the Nature and Scope of Sacred
Doctrine.
The Problem of Universals.
4. Boethius Against Real Universals.
5. John of Salisbury on the Controversy over Universals.
6. The Summa Lamberti on the Properties of Terms.
7. William Ockham on Universals.
8. John Buridan on the Predicables.
Illumination vs. Abstraction, and Scientific Knowledge.
9. Augustine on Divine Ideas and Illumination.
10. Thomas Aquinas on Illumination vs. Abstraction.
11. Thomas Aquinas on our Knowledge of the First Principles of
Demonstration.
12. Henry of Ghent on Divine Illumination.
13. Duns Scotus on Divine Illumination.
Knowledge and Skepticism.
14. Augustine on the Certainty of Self-Knowledge.
15. Thomas Aquinas on whether the Intellect Can Be False.
16. Henry of Ghent on whether a Human Being Can Know
Anything.
17. Nicholas of Autrecourt on Skepticism about Substance and
Causality.
18. John Buridan on Scientific Knowledge.
Part II: Philosophy Of Nature, Philosophy of the Soul,
Metaphysics.
Introduction.
Hylomorphism, Causality, Natural Philosophy.
19. Thomas Aquinas on the Principles of Nature.
20. Thomas Aquinas on the Mixture of Elements.
21. Giles of Rome on the Errors of the Philosophers.
22. Selections from the Condemnation of 1277.
23. John Buridan and the Impetus Theory of Projectile
Motion.
Human Nature and the Philosophy of the Soul.
24. Augustine on the Soul.
25. Averroës on the Immateriality of the Intellect.
26. Siger of Brabant on the Intellective Soul.
27. Thomas Aquinas on the Nature and Powers of the Human
Soul.
28. John Buridan on the Immateriality of the Soul.
Metaphysics, Existence, and Essence.
29. Avicenna on Common Nature.
30. Thomas Aquinas on Being and Essence.
31. John Buridan on Essence and Existence.
God's Existence and Essence.
32. Augustine on Divine Immutability.
33. Anselm of Canterbury on God's Existence.
34. Thomas Aquinas on God's Existence and Simplicity.
PART III: PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY.
Introduction.
Goodness and Being.
35. Augustine on Evil as the Privation of Goodness.
36. Augustine on the Origin of Moral Evil.
37. Boethius on Being and Goodness.
38. Thomas Aquinas on the Convertibility of Being and
Goodness.
Freedom of the Will.
39. Augustine on the "Divided Will".
40. Boethius on Divine Providence and the Freedom of the
Will.
41. Anselm of Canterbury on Free Will.
42. Henry of Ghent on the Primacy of the Will.
Virtues and Happiness.
43. Boethius of Dacia on the Supreme Good.
44. Thomas Aquinas on Happiness.
Divine Law, Natural Law, Positive Law.
45. Thomas Aquinas on Natural Law and Positive Law.
46. John Duns Scotus on Natural Law and Divine Law.
Suggestions for Further Reading.
Index
Acknowledgments.
General Introduction.
Part I: Logic and Epistemology.
Introduction.
Philosophy, Theology, Logic, and the Sciences.
1. Augustine on Ancient Philosophy.
2. Dialectica Monacensis (anonymous, twelfth century) on
the Division of Science.
3. Thomas Aquinas on the Nature and Scope of Sacred
Doctrine.
The Problem of Universals.
4. Boethius Against Real Universals.
5. John of Salisbury on the Controversy over Universals.
6. The Summa Lamberti on the Properties of Terms.
7. William Ockham on Universals.
8. John Buridan on the Predicables.
Illumination vs. Abstraction, and Scientific Knowledge.
9. Augustine on Divine Ideas and Illumination.
10. Thomas Aquinas on Illumination vs. Abstraction.
11. Thomas Aquinas on our Knowledge of the First Principles of
Demonstration.
12. Henry of Ghent on Divine Illumination.
13. Duns Scotus on Divine Illumination.
Knowledge and Skepticism.
14. Augustine on the Certainty of Self-Knowledge.
15. Thomas Aquinas on whether the Intellect Can Be False.
16. Henry of Ghent on whether a Human Being Can Know
Anything.
17. Nicholas of Autrecourt on Skepticism about Substance and
Causality.
18. John Buridan on Scientific Knowledge.
Part II: Philosophy Of Nature, Philosophy of the Soul,
Metaphysics.
Introduction.
Hylomorphism, Causality, Natural Philosophy.
19. Thomas Aquinas on the Principles of Nature.
20. Thomas Aquinas on the Mixture of Elements.
21. Giles of Rome on the Errors of the Philosophers.
22. Selections from the Condemnation of 1277.
23. John Buridan and the Impetus Theory of Projectile
Motion.
Human Nature and the Philosophy of the Soul.
24. Augustine on the Soul.
25. Averroës on the Immateriality of the Intellect.
26. Siger of Brabant on the Intellective Soul.
27. Thomas Aquinas on the Nature and Powers of the Human
Soul.
28. John Buridan on the Immateriality of the Soul.
Metaphysics, Existence, and Essence.
29. Avicenna on Common Nature.
30. Thomas Aquinas on Being and Essence.
31. John Buridan on Essence and Existence.
God's Existence and Essence.
32. Augustine on Divine Immutability.
33. Anselm of Canterbury on God's Existence.
34. Thomas Aquinas on God's Existence and Simplicity.
PART III: PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY.
Introduction.
Goodness and Being.
35. Augustine on Evil as the Privation of Goodness.
36. Augustine on the Origin of Moral Evil.
37. Boethius on Being and Goodness.
38. Thomas Aquinas on the Convertibility of Being and
Goodness.
Freedom of the Will.
39. Augustine on the "Divided Will".
40. Boethius on Divine Providence and the Freedom of the
Will.
41. Anselm of Canterbury on Free Will.
42. Henry of Ghent on the Primacy of the Will.
Virtues and Happiness.
43. Boethius of Dacia on the Supreme Good.
44. Thomas Aquinas on Happiness.
Divine Law, Natural Law, Positive Law.
45. Thomas Aquinas on Natural Law and Positive Law.
46. John Duns Scotus on Natural Law and Divine Law.
Suggestions for Further Reading.
Index
"Klima has produced an impressive volume, with texts on a wide variety of medieval philosophical discussion points that show the range of views and, broadly speaking, the trajectory of historical development on the individual issues. The translations themselves are first rate, several appear for the first time in this volume, and they are accompanied by expert introductions and annotations, as well as by a guide to further reading.... Klima's anthology of medieval philosophical texts will serve well as a course textbook or for a reader interested in getting an idea of some main issues in medieval philosophy and some important medieval views on those issues." (Russell L. Friedman, Medieval Review)
"A well-chosen and exciting selection of readings, demonstrating
not only the richness of medieval philosophy but also its relevance
for philosophical debate today."
--Michael Beaney, University of York
"This work sets a new standard for teaching anthologies in
medieval philosophy. Because it is organized along medieval rather
than modern lines, it offers readers a glimpse of the medieval
vision of higher education, beginning with the rudiments of learned
discourse in dialectic or logic and then moving on to natural
philosophy and metaphysics, the study of which culminates in
ethics."
--Jack Zupko, Emory University
"An essential collection of central readings covering a
millennium of philosophy, from Augustine to John Buridan. An
important sourcebook."
--Paul Vincent Spade, Indiana University
"A well-chosen and exciting selection of readings, demonstrating
not only the richness of medieval philosophy but also its relevance
for philosophical debate today."
--Michael Beaney, University of York
"This work sets a new standard for teaching anthologies in
medieval philosophy. Because it is organized along medieval rather
than modern lines, it offers readers a glimpse of the medieval
vision of higher education, beginning with the rudiments of learned
discourse in dialectic or logic and then moving on to natural
philosophy and metaphysics, the study of which culminates in
ethics."
--Jack Zupko, Emory University
"An essential collection of central readings covering a
millennium of philosophy, from Augustine to John Buridan. An
important sourcebook."
--Paul Vincent Spade, Indiana University
Gyula Klima is a professor of philosophy at Fordham
University. He acts as director of the international Society of
Medieval Logic and Metaphysics and an executive council member of
the American Catholic Philosophical Association since 2003. Klima
is the author of ARS ARTIUM: Essays in Philosophical Semantics,
Medieval and Modern (1988) and John Buridan: Summulae
de Dialectica (2001).
Fritz Allhoff is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at
Western Michigan University. He has published work in journals
including American Journal of Bioethics, History and Philosophy
of the Life Sciences, International Journal of Applied
Philosophy, and Kennedy Institute of Ethics
Journal.
Anand Jayprakash Vaidya is Assistant Professor of
Philosophy at San José State University. His research is in
Metaphysics & Epistemology, and Philosophy of Mind.
University. He acts as director of the international Society of
Medieval Logic and Metaphysics and an executive council member of
the American Catholic Philosophical Association since 2003. Klima
is the author of ARS ARTIUM: Essays in Philosophical Semantics,
Medieval and Modern (1988) and John Buridan: Summulae
de Dialectica (2001).
Fritz Allhoff is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at
Western Michigan University. He has published work in journals
including American Journal of Bioethics, History and Philosophy
of the Life Sciences, International Journal of Applied
Philosophy, and Kennedy Institute of Ethics
Journal.
Anand Jayprakash Vaidya is Assistant Professor of
Philosophy at San José State University. His research is in
Metaphysics & Epistemology, and Philosophy of Mind.
