A History of Philosophy, Vol. 2: Medieval Philosophy - From Augustine to Duns Scotus
Product ID: 10403604
Conceived originally as a serious presentation of the development of philosophy for Catholic seminary students, Frederick Copleston's nine-volume A History Of Philosophy has journeyed far beyond the modest purpose of its author to universal acclaim as the best history of philosophy in English. Copleston, an Oxford Jesuit of immense erudition who once tangled with A.J. Ayer in a fabled debate about the existence of God and the possibility of metaphysics, knew that seminary students were fed a woefully inadequate diet of theses and proofs, and that their familiarity with most of history's great thinkers was reduced to simplistic caricatures. Copleston set out to redress the wrong by writing a complete history of Western Philosophy, one crackling with incident and intellectual excitement - and one that gives full place to each thinker, presenting his thought in a beautifully rounded manner and showing his links to those who went before and to those who came after him. Review: Excellent, scholarly, and inexpensive - Copleston's history remains one of the best introductions to the philosophy of Medieval Europe for any serious student of philosophy. Copleston has the ability to view ideas as part of a broader whole while also being able to give detailed discussion on particular questions, and has obviously done extensive research and given careful thought to matters. He is also skilled in presenting a relatively neutral analysis of disputed points and not letting his own views interfere with his exposition. All in all, just the sort of scholar you'd want writing a history of philosophy for you. The result is a history which is relatively accessible to someone with some basic knowledge of philosophy yet informative enough to give the reader a general understanding of ideas and thinkers that can be quite extensive without getting weighed down with trying to read and interpret all the primary texts (but if one wishes, ample references to them are provided). It touches on major thinkers and controversies and superbly captures the issues at hand, while at the same time covering more marginal and transitional figures that might normally be left out. I particularly commend this text to any undergraduate philosophy student whose university does not offer any courses on medieval philosophy. Review: The Greek Influence on the Early Church Thinkers - I've always found Father Copleston's History of Philosophy series informative with clear narrative. This particular volume was helpful in grasping the roll out of Aristotle's views through the various Islamic interpreters like Avicenna and Averroes into the Latin west and the chief expositors Albert the Great and Thomas Aquinas. I was really fascinated by Bonaventure's thinking and the central role of introspection regarding awareness of God. All in all the text was well laid out and the approach supported by clear thinking. Likewise filling in briefly and concisely the role Origen and Tertullian played in the development of Christian philosophy was a plus. These are helpful for students and mature scholars for gaining context and building a bibliography. A great purchase..
| Best Sellers Rank | #413,808 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #85 in Medieval Western Philosophy #131 in Philosophy Reference (Books) #31,835 in History (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 65 Reviews |
M**K
Excellent, scholarly, and inexpensive
Copleston's history remains one of the best introductions to the philosophy of Medieval Europe for any serious student of philosophy. Copleston has the ability to view ideas as part of a broader whole while also being able to give detailed discussion on particular questions, and has obviously done extensive research and given careful thought to matters. He is also skilled in presenting a relatively neutral analysis of disputed points and not letting his own views interfere with his exposition. All in all, just the sort of scholar you'd want writing a history of philosophy for you. The result is a history which is relatively accessible to someone with some basic knowledge of philosophy yet informative enough to give the reader a general understanding of ideas and thinkers that can be quite extensive without getting weighed down with trying to read and interpret all the primary texts (but if one wishes, ample references to them are provided). It touches on major thinkers and controversies and superbly captures the issues at hand, while at the same time covering more marginal and transitional figures that might normally be left out. I particularly commend this text to any undergraduate philosophy student whose university does not offer any courses on medieval philosophy.
S**I
The Greek Influence on the Early Church Thinkers
I've always found Father Copleston's History of Philosophy series informative with clear narrative. This particular volume was helpful in grasping the roll out of Aristotle's views through the various Islamic interpreters like Avicenna and Averroes into the Latin west and the chief expositors Albert the Great and Thomas Aquinas. I was really fascinated by Bonaventure's thinking and the central role of introspection regarding awareness of God. All in all the text was well laid out and the approach supported by clear thinking. Likewise filling in briefly and concisely the role Origen and Tertullian played in the development of Christian philosophy was a plus. These are helpful for students and mature scholars for gaining context and building a bibliography. A great purchase..
S**.
Came in a perfect condition as described!
Will undoubtedly buy again. Thank you!
M**R
A thorough & well-written work!
As one who has read a number of other history of philosophy books dealing with--at least to some extent--the medieval era, I can unquestionably recommend this one as being the overall best available in English, in spite of the fact that it was written several decades ago; but, then again, philosophy from hundreds of years ago doesn't exactly change overnight! On a more serious note, what seems to make Copleston's work on medieval philosophy stand out is not only the fact that it's written by an extremely erudite, passionate scholar, but that it possesses the enviable quality of doubling as both a readable introduction to the period, as well as a fairly comprehensive history at that.
J**Z
Four Stars
good book
S**Y
Good stuff
Copleston's analyses are penetrating and elucidating. Was a philo major in college, now in my 60s - fun to go back and read thru the history of philo again. Only wish these came in Kindle versions!
J**S
History of Philosophy
very informative, educative and useful. Recommend it to anyone interested in Philosophy. required reading. Covers Medieval period from Augustine thru Scotus.
D**R
Five Stars
excellent source of information. Well written and well documented.
B**N
Five Stars
Very pleased with this book.
J**K
Um das melhores obras sobre a história da filosofia
Excelente livro, acredito ser a melhor obra sobre a história da filosofia. Um detalhe que não sabia antes de comprar é a qualidade do papel, pelo baixo preço (versão normal, não capa dura) o papel tem uma qualidade inferior, porém, não atrapalha a leitura.
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