About the Book
Medieval Political Philosophy: A Sourcebook, edited by Ralph Lerner and Muhsin Mahdi, has been a classroom favorite since its publication in 1963. When it first appeared, it was the only anthology of medieval political philosophy to contain major texts from all three Western monotheistic traditions-Christianity, Judaism, and Islam-and that claim remains true today. This new edition of this classic text of political philosophy-revised and enlarged by Joshua Parens and Joseph C. Macfarland-will make accessible to today's students the insights of these profound medieval thinkers. Prior to the modern separation of religion from politics, these medieval thinkers explored a variety of approaches to the relation between religion and politics-approaches that prompted renewed interest in a world divided over how best to relate the two. For the authors gathered in this volume-including Alfarabi, Alghazali, Averroes, Maimonides, Judah Halevi, Thomas Aquinas, Boethius of Dacia, and Dante Alighieri among many others-there was a greater uniformity of general intention than at any other period.
All of these authors studied the works of classical political philosophy and considered in a variety of ways the implications of this political thought for their contemporary situation in a monotheistic religious community.
Table of Contents:
General Introduction PART I: POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY IN ISLAM Edited by Joshua Parens Introduction 1. Alfarabi, The Enumeration of the Sciences Charles E. Butterworth, trans. 2. Alfarabi, The Book of Religion Charles E. Butterworth, trans. 3. Alfarabi, The Political Regime Charles E. Butterworth, trans. 4. Alfarabi, The Attainment of Happiness Muhsin Mahdi, trans. 5. Alfarabi, Plato's Laws Muhsin Mahdi, trans. 6. Avicenna, On the Divisions of the Rational Sciences Muhsin Mahdi, trans. 7. Avicenna, Healing: Metaphysics Michael E. Marmura, trans. 8. Alghazali, The Deliverer from Error Richard J. McCarthy, SJ, trans. 9. Ibn Bajja, The Governance of the Solitary Lawrence Berman, trans. 10. Ibn Tufayl, Hayy the Son of Yaqzan George N. Atiyeh, trans. 11. Averroes, The Decisive Treatise Charles E. Butterworth, trans. Bibliography and Further Reading PART II: POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY IN JUDAISM Edited by Joshua Parens Introduction 12. Saadya Gaon, The Book of Doctrines and Beliefs Alexander Altmann, trans. 13. Judah Halevi, The Book of Refutation and Proof on Behalf of the Despised Religion, or, The Kuzari Barry Kogan and Lawrence Berman, trans. 14. Maimonides, Logic Muhsin Mahdi, trans. 15. Maimonides, The Guide of the Perplexed Ralph Lerner, Muhsin Mahdi, and Joshua Parens, trans. 16. Maimonides, Eight Chapters Joshua Parens, trans. 17. Maimonides, Letter on Astrology Ralph Lerner, trans. 18. Isaac Polgar, The Support of Religion Charles H. Manekin, trans. 19. Abravanel, Commentary on the Bible Robert Sacks, trans. Bibliography and Further Reading PART III: POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY IN CHRISTIANITY Edited by Joseph C. Macfarland Introduction 20. Roger Bacon, Opus Maius: Moral Philosophy Richard McKeon, Donald McCarthy, and Ernest L. Fortin, trans. 21. Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on the Nicomachean Ethics Charles I. Litzinger, trans. 22. Thomas Aquinas and Peter of Auvergne, Commentary on the Politics Ernest L. Fortin, Peter D. O'Neill, and Joseph C. Macfarland, trans. 23. Boethius of Dacia, On the Supreme Good John F. Wippel, trans. 24. Condemnation of 219 Propositions Ernest L. Fortin and Peter D. O'Neill, trans. 25. Giles of Rome, On Ecclesiastical Power R. W. Dyson, trans. 26. Ptolemy of Lucca, On the Government of Rulers James M. Blythe, trans. 27. Dante Alighieri, Monarchy Philip H. Wicksteed, trans. 28. Marsilius of Padua, The Defender of the Peace Alan Gewirth, trans. 29. William of Ockham, The Dialogue John Kilcullen, trans. Bibliography and Further Reading Index
About the Author :
Joshua Parens is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Dallas. He is the author of Metaphysics as Rhetoric: Alfarabi's "Summary of Plato's 'Laws'" and An Islamic Philosophy of Virtuous Religions. Joseph C. Macfarland is a tutor at St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland.
Review :
"This updated collection is as timely now as it was back then: few students of political theory are sufficiently conversant with the rich medieval tradition of reflection on such problems as 'reason and revelation' or 'natural and divine law.' ... One cannot argue with the enduring relevance of this work for the study of political philosophy. Summing Up: Highly recommended."-Choice (January 2012)
