Basic Issues in Medieval Philosophy

by Richard Bosley (Editor), Martin M. Tweedale (Editor)

In this important collection, the editors argue that medieval philosophy is best studied as an interactive discussion between thinkers working on very much the same problems despite being often widely separated in time or place. Each section opens with at least one selection from a classical philosopher, and there are many points at which the readings chosen refer to other works that the reader will also find in this collection. There is a considerable amount of material from central figures such as Augustine, Abelard, Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham, as well as extensive texts from thinkers in the medieval Islamic world. Each selection is prefaced by a brief introduction by the editors, providing a philosophical and religious background to help make the material more accessible to the reader. This edition, updated throughout, contains a substantial new chapter on medieval psychology and philosophy of mind, with texts from authors not previously represented such as John Buridan and Peter John Olivi.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

830 pages, Paperback

First published January 24, 1997

Reviews

[geoffrey Paugher-Storree · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an excellent collection of works. I'm only knocking some stars down, because my personal enjoyment started to wane as I slogged through the book. Medieval philosophy is dense, scholastic argumentation is often tedious and the terminology is uniquely technical, often with each philosopher shifting the syntax just enough to keep you off balance (Quiddity, essence, necessary existent!). Once each thinker’s core project is clear, the repetition of First Mover arguments with slight variations can wear thin.

I suspect the editors intended this volume as a menu sampling of key debates for browsing, but it’s also ordered beautifully if you want to wade through the bog and witness the progression of medieval thought chapter by chapter. I made it to chapter 5, then split up chapters 6-9 with my friend, and skipped 10 altogether. Some material was too much or too marginal to sustain interest. But by then, the book had done its job: it gave me a solid foundation to approach primary texts with more clarity. Its greatest value lies in weaving lesser-known thinkers into conversations with the canonical figures. It really sets the stage for subsequent philosophy once you understand the direction and flow of ideas in medieval times! How do we get from Plato's forms, to Kant's categories? This collection lets you walk the long, winding road one syllogism at a time.

The primary philosophical battle unfolding is realism vs nominalism. You have many different flavors of realism, all with a mission to make reason and faith compatible. They are crafting these intricate systems of causal chains with god at the beginning, inspired by Aristotle's "unmoved mover". The first protest comes from Al-Ghazali, he is skeptical that philosophers are doing anything valuable with their definitions, and is first in the tradition of nominalism contra Avicenna. Ghazali fears that reason, by overextending its reach, risks turning God into a sterile metaphysical principle rather than a sovereign will. This concern isn’t atheistic, but theological: philosophy is shrinking God, not denying him. This is where skepticism was reignited, not from an epicurean atheist proto-Hume, but from a religious anxiety about the growing role of philosophy within faith. Ockham will take a very similar approach later in Europe, ultimately favoring scripture/revelation, but leaving a bloody corpse after taking his razor to classical metaphysics. There’s a certain irony brewing: the most powerful attack on faith will later emerge from the very skeptical maneuvers faith used to protect itself from reason.

We see the slow march of reason, from the Arab world reaching saturation in Averroes, to infecting Europe with the Aristotelian revival. Religion becomes almost subordinate to reason in Maimonides, Averroes, and Siger of Brabant. The church senses this threat and starts a counter-attack in the condemnation of 1277. Reason doesn't fully retreat, but treads more carefully. We then see figures like Duns Scotus trying to salvage the system by constructing ever more intricate scaffolds and patchwork to address unsolved tensions: the Trinity, free will, omniscience, time, contingency. It becomes increasingly bloated until Ockham pops the bubble.

By the end, we’re standing at the wreckage of classical metaphysics. Hume is ready to push Ockham’s skepticism even further, stripping away theology and leaving only sensation, habit, and doubt. Descartes, on the other hand, will try to rebuild from his cogito, a new foundation rooted in mental certainty, not in Aristotle’s cosmic sandcastles.
Overall an amazing journey, but not without its tedium!

[Scot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice topical anthology. Comprehensive selections for the topics from classical writers (e.g., Plato, Aristotle, Plotinus) to some medieval writers not normally found in chronological anthologies (e.g., Porphyry, Henry of Ghent, Siger of Brabant, Garlandus Compotista). Most readings are manageable for undergraduates.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

The standard reference work on medieval philosophy from Avicenna, main interpreter of Aristotle, through to Thomas Aquinas.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

For my Medieval Philosophy class . . .