Medieval Thought Books - Page 5

Niccolo's Smile: A Biography of Machiavelli

Maurizio Viroli

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 15 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Machiavelli as a human being rather than an epithet 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 7 people found this review helpful.

This is a concise and lively account of Machiavelli's life. It provides the general reader with much needed context and background in order to read Machiavelli's works with any kind of understanding. While there are good scholarly works that can provide the feeling of more intellectual heft, this book should not be underestimated simply because it is easy to read and doesn't require weeks to read.

Machiavelli is one of those brand-name characters that evoke certain reactions in people in such a generalized way that people mistakenly believe they know something about the man and his work. This book can help debunk much of that received nonsense. It is surprising how "modern" a man he was considering he lived nearly 500 years ago.

The author has admiration for Machiavelli's skills as an analyst and as a diplomat, has sympathy for his personal suffering and disappointments, and forgiving in his attitude towards Machiavelli's human failings (the author might not even agree they were failings - they were just human). And that is the book's greatest contribution; it shows its subject as a human being rather than a caricature or a statue.

In any case, I found this to be a very valuable and entertaining book. I recommend it highly. You can draw your own conclusions about the subject and they author's conclusions. But you will have gained a lot in the process of coming to those (now better informed) conclusions.

There are a few helpful maps throughout the book and a suggested reading list at the end. The translation is terrific.

Editorial Review:

A vivid portrayal of the great Italian philosopher - now in paperbackIn Niccolò's Smile, Maurizio Viroli brings to life the fascinating writer who was the founder of modern political thought. Niccolò Machiavelli's works on the theory and practice of statecraft are classics, but Viroli sugggests that his greatest accomplishment is his robust philosophy of life -- his deep beliefs about how one should conduct oneself as a modern citizen in a republic, as a responsible family member, as a good person. On these subjects Machiavelli wrote no books: the text of his philosophy is his life itself, a life that was filled with paradox, uncertainty, and tragic drama.

Spinoza and Politics (Radical Thinkers)

Etienne Balibar

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

A trenchant analysis of Spinoza's major treatises within the context of his contemporary political, religious, and ideological life.

With Hobbes and Locke, Spinoza is arguably one of the most important political philosophers of the modern era, a premier theoretician of democracy and mass politics. In this revised and augmented English translation of his 1985 classic, Spinoza et la Politique, Etienne Balibar presents a synoptic account of Spinoza's major works, admirably demonstrating relevance to his contemporary political life. Balibar carefully situates Spinoza's major treatises in the period in which they were written. In successive chapters, he examines the political situation in the United Provinces during Spinoza's lifetime, Spinoza's own religious and ideological associations, the concept of democracy developed in the Theologico-Political Treatise, the theory of the state advanced in the Political Treatise and the anthropological basis for politics established in the Ethics.

"Verso's beautifully designed Radical Thinkers series, which brings together seminal works by leading left-wing intellectuals, is a sophisticated blend of theory and thought. The authors whose writings are included in the series have worked tirelessly to expose the mechanisms by which culture and knowledge are manufactured, managed and controlled."—Ziauddin Sardar, New Statesman

An Aquinas Reader: Selections from the Writings of Thomas Aquinas

Mary Clark

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Sliced and Diced Aquinas 2 out of 5 stars.
9 of 11 people found this review helpful.

This is an unfortunate example of the sort of thing which academics produce and then force undergraduates to wade through. The author has found all the similar passages in Aquinas' many works and has collected them together in snippets varying from a paragraph to two to three pages in length. This results in great repetition, and the beauty of the sweeping logical development which is presumably present in the original, is lost.

A word of warning to anyone who would approach Aquinas: read your Aristotle first.

Editorial Review:

This new edition of An Aquinas Reader contains in one closely knit volume representative selections that reflect every aspect of Aquinas’s philosophy. Divided into three section – Reality, God, and Man – this anthology offers an unrivaled perspective of the full scope and rich variety of Aquinas’s thought. It provides the general reader with an overall survey of one of the most outstanding thinks or all time and reveals the major influence he has had on many of the world’s greatest thinkers. This revised third edition of Clark’s perennial still has all of the exceptional qualities that made An Aquinas Reader a classic, but contains a new introduction, improved format, and an updated bibliography.

Five Texts on the Mediaeval Problem of Universals: Porphyry, Boethius, Abelard, Duns Scotus, Ockham

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Stunning Introduction to the Complex Medieval Theory of 'Universals' 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

"It is easy to motivate the problem of universals. Consider these two capital letters: A A. Ignore everything else about them and for now observe only that they are of the same color; they are both black.... Isn't it obvious that you see two colors here, two blacknesses: the blackness of the first A, this blackness, and then the blackness of the second A, that blackness?... But aren't they visually as distinct as the two letters themselves?... The problem of universals is in effect the problem of deciding between these answers" (pg vii).

The reason I included this long quote is to show how wonderful Paul Vincent Spade's introduction is for this quote illustrates in a nutshell the underling problem of Universals in a clear and precise way (the actual writers on the theory never manage to explain themselves this precisely). The importance of clarity and concise analysis is vital since the Medieval dialogue about the nature of Universals is complex, sometimes excruciatingly difficult, and an introduction which lays out the basic premises and questions is the first step of comprehension! Also, the introduction briefly summarizes each text EXCERPT and their author present in the volume. Portions from Porhyry's 'Isagoge,' Boethius 'Second Commentary on Porphyry's Isagoge,' Peter Abelard's Glosses on Porphyry in his 'Logica 'ingredientibus,'' John Duns Scotus 'Ordinatio,' and William of Ockham's 'Ordinatio' are in the volume. These excerpts trace in chronological order the main philosophers involved with the question of Universals starting with the questions posed by Porphyry.

The introduction and Excerpts form an amazing (yet still somewhat difficult) text for a student interested in Medieval Philosophy. However, volume's wonderful index of the main terms is a great tool for easy clarification and reference. This is simply an invaluable resource and a great starting point for the study of the Medieval problem of Universals!

Editorial Review:

New translations of the central medieval texts on the problem of universals are presented here in an affordable edition suitable for use in courses in medieval philosophy, history of medieval philosophy, and universals. Includes a concise introduction, glossary of important terms, notes, and bibliography.

Boethius (Great Medieval Thinkers)

John Marenbon

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A Comprehensive Study of Boethius 4 out of 5 stars.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful.

For anyone interested in the thought of the Late Antique world, or in the intellectual milieu of the early and high Middle Ages, then this book will be of inestimable value. John Marenbon's Boethius (Great Medieval Thinkers) is a storehouse for the main principles of Boethius' Greek Neo-Platonism, Christian Theology, Aristotelian Logic, and Latin literature, all of which left there mark upon later thinkers. In this work, Marenbon begins by reconstructing the historical aspects of Boethius' life, such as his rise to being elected Consul up to his tradgic fall on account of the trumped-up charges of treason placed upon him by the Gothic regime. Also in this historical sketch, Marenbon vindicates the Christianity of Boethius while detailing the intricacies of his famous text the Consolation, which makes no outward mention of any alliance with Christianity. Also detailed summaries are given as to his musical, astrological, mathematical, logical, theological, and philosophical works. Of these, particular attention is paid to Boethius' logical and philosophical writings, for the obvious reason that this is what consumed most of his time. Despite this, Marenbon's is a study which is most comprehensive and well-rounded, one that is quite similar to Henry Chadwick's in scope and worth. Overall, it should be said that this work should be used foremost as a model for the interpretation of the Consolation, in respect of the insights and suggestions he throws upon the text. Also the reader will be impressed with a more than satisfactory understanding of Boethius' logical, theological and philosophical systems as well. Marenbon's 'Boethius' is highly recommended.

Editorial Review:

This book offers a brief, accessible introduction to the thought of Boethius. After a survey of Boethius's life and work, Marenbon explicates his theological method, and devotes separate chapters to his arguments about good and evil, fortune, fate and free will, and the problem of divine foreknowledge. Marenbon also traces Boethius's influence on the work of such thinkers as Aquinas and Duns Scotus.

The Sentences-Book 1 The Mystery of the Trinity (Mediaeval Sources in Translation)

Peter Lombard

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Anselm (Great Medieval Thinkers)

Sandra Visser, Thomas Williams

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Editorial Review:

Sandra Visser and Thomas Williams offer a brief, accessible introduction to the life and thought of Saint Anselm (c. 1033-1109). Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury for the last sixteen years of his life, is one of the foremost philosopher-theologians of the Middle Ages. His keen and rigorous thinking earned him the title "The Father of Scholasticism," and his influence is discernible in figures as various as Thomas Aquinas, John Duns Scotus, the voluntarists of the late-thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, and the Protestant reformers.
In part I of this book, Visser and Williams lay out the framework of Anselm's thought: his approach to what he calls "the reason of faith," his account of thought and language, and his theory of truth. Part II focuses on Anselm's account of God and the divine attributes, and it shows how Anselm applies his theory of language and thought to develop a theological semantics that at once respects divine transcendence and allows for the possibility of divine rational knowledge. In Part III, Visser and Williams turn from the heavenly to the animal. They elucidate Anselm's theory of modality and his understanding of free choice, an idea that was, for Anselm, embedded in his conception of justice. The book concludes with a discussion of Incarnation, Atonement, and original sin, as the authors examine Anselm's argument that the death of a God-man is the only possible remedy for human injustice.

Consolation of Philosophy

Boethius

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Relihan's 'Consolation' Should Not Go Unoticed 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

The Relihan translation emphasizes the philosophical depth of Boethius' Consolation, while faithfully and artfully reproducing the original beauty of his verse and the sublimity of its meaning. With this edition comes a detailed and informative introduction, along with exhaustive notes and a definitive glossary. Joel C. Relihan is one of the leading authorities in Boethian studies; his rendition of the Consolation is one that anyone serious about its study can hardly pass.

The One and the Good 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Here you find the unequivocal declaration that not riches, not high position, not fame, not physical pleasure are worth pursuing in-and-of themselves. Such things are of value only if they are obtained in the pursuit of the highest Good. This highest Good is demonstrated to be God. Moreover, Boethius points out that when evil men succeed in obtaining such goals over the righteous, then they cease to truly be men- they are beasts and subhuman. This is a refreshing reminder in the modern world, a world not unlike that of late Roman times.

All happyness, all worth, all reason for being, lies in the One and the Good. Even when we commit immoral acts, it is a result of ignorance on our part in seeking this ultimate goal. Indeed, to turn from the quest of finding the One is to cease to exist at any meaningful level. There is no "fire and brimstone", or talk of eternal torment in hell here. There doesn't need to be. As long as you willfully or ignorantly stray from the Path then you are in hell. And to not find reconnection with the One and the Good is to cease to exist. All of our earthly existence is for the purpose of reawakening to our true nature. This truth lies within all of us and it is only reached by personal introspection (Know thyself.) Only in this way will we return to the eternal Source that lies beyond time itself.

The consolation of the Consolatio lies in the fact that suffering serves a purpose if it puts us back on the true Path. Moreover, earthly recognition of virtue is irrelevent. God always recognises the man of virtue if the masses do not.

Editorial Review:

Joel Relihan's translation highlights the poetry of the Consolation while remaining faithful to Boethius' Latin.

The Cambridge Companion to Medieval Philosophy (Cambridge Companions to Philosophy)

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Light your way through the main topics 4 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book to help me get through a St. Thomas Aquinas course. Medieval thinking is so wide that often you need a guide not to get lost in the sea of authors and information about it. That's why this book (as the title announces), divided in chapters that try to pinpoint the main subjetcs that were treated during the medieval period, is an excellent companion for a medieval course.
On the other hand, the great medieval thinkers are not examined thoroughly, and it is sometimes difficult to get an accurate idea of the structure of their thinking. But then again, the objective of the book is to light your way through the main topics in medieval thinking.
Some articles are more exhaustive than others, and sometimes you get the feeling that you are not necessarily reading a university text but separated comments on philosophy.
The book works great as an introduction to medieval philosophy for beginners or as a complement for more advanced readers. Any how, you will always need to go to additional bibliography.

Editorial Review:

Spanning a millennium of thought extending from Augustine to Thomas Aquinas and beyond, this volume takes its readers into one of the most exciting periods in the history of philosophy. It includes not only the thinkers of the Latin West but also the profound contributions of Islamic and Jewish philosophers such as Avicenna and Maimonides. Leading specialists examine what it was like to study philosophy in the cultures and institutions of the Middle Ages. Supplementary material includes chronological charts and biographies of the major thinkers.

Leibniz (Routledge Philosophers)

N. Jolley

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Editorial Review:

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (1646-1716) was hailed by Bertrand Russell as "one of the supreme intellects of all time." A towering figure in Seventeenth century philosophy, his complex thought has been championed and satirized in equal measure, most famously in Voltaire's Candide.

In this outstanding introduction to his philosophy, Nicholas Jolley introduces and assesses the whole of Leibniz's philosophy. Beginning with an introduction to Leibniz's life and work, he carefully introduces the core elements of Leibniz's metaphysics: his theories of substance, identity and individuation; monads and space and time; and his important debate over the nature of space and time with Newton's champion, Samuel Clarke.

He then introduces Leibniz's theories of mind, knowledge, and innate ideas, showing how Lenin anticipated the distinction between conscious and unconscious states, before examining his theory of free will and the problem of evil. An important feature of the book is its introduction to Leibniz's moral and political philosophy, an overlooked aspect of his work.

The final chapter assesses legacy and the impact of his philosophy on philosophy as a whole, particularly on the work of Immanuel Kant. Throughout, Nicholas Jolley places Lenin in relation to some of the other great philosophers, such as Descartes, Spinoza and Locke, and discusses Leibniz's key works, such as the Monadology and Discourse on Metaphysics.