I've created a reading list for my self of major philosophical works to give me a broad understanding of the field from it's original expositors (except in one case but he agrees with him at all points and van Til was a poor author). The areas of philosophy I want to cover are epistemology, metaphysics, ethics and aesthetics. At present my list jumps from Plotinus to Decartes. Are there any works by Aquinas or Augustine that are important or someone else who has skipped my mind? My list at present reads as follows:
The atoms tell the atoms so, for I never was or will but atoms forevermore be.
Yours sincerely,
Physiocrat
I mean, Augustine's City of God and Confessions are both important (significant to Christian philosophy), they are not really from the middle ages. And Aquinas (Thomism) is popular in its own right.
The Fable of the Bees?
Francis Hutcheson has the most succinct Scottish Enlightenment (Ethics, Metaphysics, Aesthetics) and Adam Smith has his Theory of Moral Sentiments, but I guess they aren't middle ages either.
Are there any particular works by Aquinas you would recommend?
Physiocrat: Are there any particular works by Aquinas you would recommend? The Summa Theologiae is probably one of the most influential books ever written. Other important works of philosophy from the Middle Ages are: Moreh Nevukhim by Moshe ben Maimon Khitab al-Shifa by Ibn Sina (Avicenna) Liber Quattuor Sententiarum by Petrus Lombardus Dialectica by Pierre Abélard (incomplete) There are more but I should have paid more attention in philosophy class at school... Together we go unsung... together we go down with our people | Post Points: 20
Kakugo: The Summa Theologiae is probably one of the most influential books ever written.
The Summa Theologiae is probably one of the most influential books ever written.
Ii is but is it mainly for its theological or philosophical content. I did have the Suma down at some point to read although I considered it more in the theological rather than philosophical category.
Thanks for the other suggestions, I'll check them out.
The areas of philosophy I want to cover are epistemology, metaphysics, ethics and aesthetics. At present my list jumps from Plotinus to Decartes.
The middle ages were the era of scholasticism. So many of the writers in that period were monks. And we just may not the names of it. The universities taught the Trivium, which deals with grammar, logic and rhetoric and the Quadrivium, which is about the numerical arts. Important names from the middle ages in terms of philosophy would be:
You may also be interested in the following: http://archive.org/details/cu31924029007726 Overview on medieval thought.
Or Political theories of the middle age
I got more in store, but unfortunately hadn't yet the opportunity to read the medieval philosophers thoroughly. But I really get the impression that this era is underappreciated.