Scholasticism - Personalities and Problems of Medieval Philosophy (Paperback, 2nd Revised edition)

No better guide over the thousand-year period called the Middle Ages could be found than Josef Pieper. In this amazing tour de monde medievale, he moves easily back and forth between the figures and the doctrines that made medieval philosophy unique in Western thought. After reflecting on the invidious implications of the phrase 'Middle Ages,' Pieper turns to the fascinating personality of Boethius whose contribution to prison literature, The Consolation of Philosophy, is second only to the Bible in the number of manuscript copies. The Neo-Platonic figures - Dionysius and Eriugena - are the occasion for a discussion of negative theology. The treatment of Anselm of Canterbury's proof of God's existence involves later voices, e.g., Kant. Like other historians, Pieper is enamored of the twelfth century, which is regularly eclipsed by accounts of the thirteenth century. Pieper does justice to both. His account of the rivalry between Peter Abelard and Bernard of Clairvaux is masterful, nor does he fail to give John of Salisbury the space he deserves. The account is broken by the gradual replacement of the synthesis of faith and reason that had been achieved in the early Middle Ages by a new one that made use of Aristotle. Pieper gives a thorough and lively account of the struggle between Aristotelians and anti-Aristotelians, and the famous condemnations that put the effort of Saint Thomas Aquinas at risk. But the Summa theologiae is regarded by Pieper as the unique achievement of the period. If the early centuries, the medieval period, can be seen as moving toward the thirteenth and Thomas's unique achievement, subsequent centuries saw the decline of scholasticism and the appearance of harbingers of modern philosophy. The book closes with Pieper's thoughts on the permanent philosophical and theological significance of scholasticism and the Middle Ages. Once again, wearing his learning lightly, writing with a clarity that delights, Josef Pieper has taken the field from stuffier and more extended accounts.

General

Imprint:	St. Augustine's Press
Country of origin:	United States
Release date:	April 2001
First published:	April 2001
Authors:	Josef Pieper
Translators:	Richard Winston • Clara Winston
Dimensions:	213 x 136 x 8mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	192
Edition:	2nd Revised edition
ISBN-13:	978-1-58731-750-7
Subtitles:	German
Categories:	Books > Humanities > Philosophy > Western philosophy > Western philosophy, c 500 to c 1600 > General Books > Philosophy > Western philosophy > Western philosophy, c 500 to c 1600 > General Promotions
LSN:	1-58731-750-8
Barcode:	9781587317507

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!