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.
Table of Contents
Topic I. Necessity, Contingency, and Causation
Introduction
I.1. Aristotle
I.2. Avicenna
I.3. Abelard
I.4. Al-Ghazali and Averroes
I.5. St. Thomas Aquinas
I.6. Siger of Brabant
I.7. The Condemnation of 1277
I.8. Henry of Ghent
I.9. John Duns Scotus
I.10. William of Ockham
Topic II. Is There an Infinitely Perfect Being?
Introduction
II.1. Aristotle
II.2. St. Anselm
II.3. Al-Ghazali and Averroes
II.4. St. Thomas Aquinas
II.5. John Duns Scotus
II.6. William of Ockham
Topic III. Could the World be Eternally Existent?
Introduction
III.1. Aristotle
III.2. St. Augustine
III.3. Al-Ghazali and Averroes
III.4. Moses Maimonides
III.5. St. Thomas Aquinas
III.6. Henry of Ghent
III.7. John Duns Scotus
III.8. William of Ockham
Topic IV. Determinism, Free Will, and Divine Foreknowledge
Introduction
IV.1. Aristotle
IV.2. Boethius
IV.3. St. Anselm
IV.4. St. Thomas Aquinas
IV.5. Siger of Brabant
IV.6. John Duns Scotus
IV.7. William of Ockham
Topic V. Identity and Distinction
Introduction
V.1. Aristotle
V.2. Boethius
V.3. Abelard
V.4. John Duns Scotus
V.5. William of Ockham
Topic VI. Universals and Particulars
Introduction
VI.1. Plato
VI.2. Aristotle
VI.3. Porphyry
VI.4. Boethius
VI.5. Garlandus Compotista
VI.6. Abelard
VI.7. Avicenna
VI.8. John Duns Scotus
VI.9. William of Ockham
Topic VII. Skepticism
Introduction
VII.1. St. Augustine
VII.2. Henry of Ghent
VII.3. Siger of Brabant
VII.4. John Duns Scotus
VII.5. Nicholas of Autrecourt
Topic VIII. Virtue and Reason, Sin and Sex
Introduction
VIII.1. Aristotle
VIII.2. St. Augustine
VIII.3. Al-Ghazali
VIII.4. Abelard
VIII.5. St. Thomas Aquinas
Topic IX. The "Darkness Which is Beyond Intellect"
Introduction
IX.1. Plotinus
IX.2. Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite
IX.3. John Scotus Eriugena
IX.4. Ibn Tufail
IX.5. Meister Eckhart
Topic X. Body, Soul, and Intellect
Introduction
X.1. Aristotle
X.2. Alexander of Aphrodisias
X.3. Themistius
X.4. Avicenna
X.5. Averroes
X.6. Siger of Brabant and Thomas Acquinas
X.7. Peter John Olivi
X.8. John Buridan