EUR  â¬241.20EUR  â¬201.00 excl. VAT
Weakness of the Will in Medieval Thought
From Augustine to Buridan
Series:
Author:
This book sets out to examine the medieval understanding of Aristotle's famous discussion of âweakness of the willâ (akrasia, incontinentia) in the seventh book of his Nicomachean Ethics.
The medieval views are outlined primarily on the basis of the commentaries on Aristotle's Ethics by Albert the Great, Thomas Aquinas, Walter Burley, Gerald Odonis and John Buridan. An investigation of the earlier Augustinian discussion concerning reluctant actions (invitus facere) rounds out the study.
The recent studies of weakness of the will have neglected the medieval philosophers. The present volume fills this gap in historical research and shows that especially the conceptual refinement of the fourteenth-century discussion makes contributions that are comparable to those of twentieth-century philosophers.
The medieval views are outlined primarily on the basis of the commentaries on Aristotle's Ethics by Albert the Great, Thomas Aquinas, Walter Burley, Gerald Odonis and John Buridan. An investigation of the earlier Augustinian discussion concerning reluctant actions (invitus facere) rounds out the study.
The recent studies of weakness of the will have neglected the medieval philosophers. The present volume fills this gap in historical research and shows that especially the conceptual refinement of the fourteenth-century discussion makes contributions that are comparable to those of twentieth-century philosophers.
Risto Saarinen, Doctor of Theology (1988), University of Helsinki, is Professor at the Institute for Ecumenical Research in Strasbourg, France. He has published on late medieval philosophy, the Lutheran Reformation and ecumenical theology.
'...clear, well-written book...'
P.L. Urban Jr., Choice, 1995.
'This book is a valuable introduction to medieval literature on akrasia, and deserves to be consulted by anyone with an interest in the history of that problem.'
Jack Zupko, The Review of Metaphysics, 1995.
'L'auteur développe avec une belle acribie ce thème complexe du dialogue de la raison avec la volonté.'
Camille Bérubé, Collectanea Franciscana, 1995.
'Ainsi, par son ouvrage, M. Saarinen apporte incontestablement une contribution décisive à l'histoire de ce thème dans la pensé occidentale.'
Jacques Follon, Comptes Rendu.
P.L. Urban Jr., Choice, 1995.
'This book is a valuable introduction to medieval literature on akrasia, and deserves to be consulted by anyone with an interest in the history of that problem.'
Jack Zupko, The Review of Metaphysics, 1995.
'L'auteur développe avec une belle acribie ce thème complexe du dialogue de la raison avec la volonté.'
Camille Bérubé, Collectanea Franciscana, 1995.
'Ainsi, par son ouvrage, M. Saarinen apporte incontestablement une contribution décisive à l'histoire de ce thème dans la pensé occidentale.'
Jacques Follon, Comptes Rendu.
Acknowledgements
1. Introduction
2. Reluctant Actions in the Augustinian Tradition
3. Akrasia in Scholasticism
Sources and Literature
Index of Names
Index of Subjects
1. Introduction
2. Reluctant Actions in the Augustinian Tradition
3. Akrasia in Scholasticism
Sources and Literature
Index of Names
Index of Subjects
Students and scholars of medieval philosophy and theology, all those interested in philosophy of mind and action.