Dante's Philosophical Life : Politics and Human Wisdom in 'Purgatorio'

When political theorists teach the history of political philosophy, they typically skip from the ancient Greeks and Cicero to Augustine in the fifth century and Thomas Aquinas in the thirteenth, and then on to the origins of modernity with Machiavelli and beyond. Paul Stern aims to change this settled narrative and makes a powerful case for treating Dante Alighieri, arguably the greatest poet of medieval Christendom, as a political philosopher of the first rank.In__Dante's Philosophical Life__, Stern argues that__Purgatorio's__depiction of the ascent to Earthly Paradise, that is, the summit of Mount Purgatory, was intended to give instruction on how to live the philosophic life, understood in its classical form as "love of wisdom." As an object of love, however, wisdom must be sought by the human soul, rather than possessed. But before the search can be undertaken, the soul needs to consider from where it begins: its nature and its good. In Stern's interpretation of__Purgatorio__, Dante's intense concern for political life follows from this need, for it is law that supplies the notions of good that shape the soul's understanding and it is law, especially its limits, that provides the most evident display of the soul's enduring hopes.According to Stern, Dante places inquiry regarding human nature and its good at the heart of philosophic investigation, thereby rehabilitating the highest form of reasoned judgment or prudence. Philosophy thus understood is neither a body of doctrines easily situated in a Christian framework nor a set of intellectual tools best used for predetermined theological ends, but a way of life. Stern's claim that Dante was arguing for prudence against dogmatisms of every kind addresses a question of contemporary concern: whether reason can guide a life.

When political theorists teach the history of political philosophy, they typically skip from the ancient Greeks and Cicero to Augustine in the fifth century and Thomas Aquinas in the thirteenth, and then on to the origins of modernity with Machiavelli and beyond. Paul Stern aims to change this settled narrative and makes a powerful case for treating Dante Alighieri, arguably the greatest poet of medieval Christendom, as a political philosopher of the first rank.

In Dante's Philosophical Life, Stern argues that Purgatorio's depiction of the ascent to Earthly Paradise, that is, the summit of Mount Purgatory, was intended to give instruction on how to live the philosophic life, understood in its classical form as "love of wisdom." As an object of love, however, wisdom must be sought by the human soul, rather than possessed. But before the search can be undertaken, the soul needs to consider from where it begins: its nature and its good. In Stern's interpretation of Purgatorio, Dante's intense concern for political life follows from this need, for it is law that supplies the notions of good that shape the soul's understanding and it is law, especially its limits, that provides the most evident display of the soul's enduring hopes.

According to Stern, Dante places inquiry regarding human nature and its good at the heart of philosophic investigation, thereby rehabilitating the highest form of reasoned judgment or prudence. Philosophy thus understood is neither a body of doctrines easily situated in a Christian framework nor a set of intellectual tools best used for predetermined theological ends, but a way of life. Stern's claim that Dante was arguing for prudence against dogmatisms of every kind addresses a question of contemporary concern: whether reason can guide a life.

When political theorists teach the history of politicalphilosophy, they typically skip from the ancient Greeks and Ciceroto Augustine in the fifth century and Thomas Aquinas in thethirteenth, and then on to the origins of modernity withMachiavelli and beyond. Paul Stern aims to change this settlednarrative and makes a powerful case for treating Dante Alighieri,arguably the greatest poet of medieval Christendom, as a politicalphilosopher of the first rank.

In Dante's Philosophical Life, Stern argues thatPurgatorio's depiction of the ascent to Earthly Paradise,that is, the summit of Mount Purgatory, was intended to giveinstruction on how to live the philosophic life, understood in itsclassical form as "love of wisdom." As an object of love, however,wisdom must be sought by the human soul, rather than possessed. Butbefore the search can be undertaken, the soul needs to considerfrom where it begins: its nature and its good. In Stern'sinterpretation of Purgatorio, Dante's intense concern forpolitical life follows from this need, for it is law that suppliesthe notions of good that shape the soul's understanding and it islaw, especially its limits, that provides the most evident displayof the soul's enduring hopes.

According to Stern, Dante places inquiry regarding human natureand its good at the heart of philosophic investigation, therebyrehabilitating the highest form of reasoned judgment or prudence.Philosophy thus understood is neither a body of doctrines easilysituated in a Christian framework nor a set of intellectual toolsbest used for predetermined theological ends, but a way of life.Stern's claim that Dante was arguing for prudence againstdogmatisms of every kind addresses a question of contemporaryconcern: whether reason can guide a life.

When political theorists teach the history of political philosophy, they typically skip from the ancient Greeks and Cicero to Augustine in the fifth century and Thomas Aquinas in the thirteenth, and then on to the origins of modernity with Machiavelli and beyond. Paul Stern aims to change this settled narrative and makes a powerful case for treating Dante Alighieri, arguably the greatest poet of medieval Christendom, as a political philosopher of the first rank. In Dante's Philosophical Life , Stern argues that Purgatorio's depiction of the ascent to Earthly Paradise, that is, the summit of Mount Purgatory, was intended to give instruction on how to live the philosophic life, understood in its classical form as "love of wisdom." As an object of love, however, wisdom must be sought by the human soul, rather than possessed. But before the search can be undertaken, the soul needs to consider from where it begins: its nature and its good. In Stern's interpretation of Purgatorio , Dante's intense concern for political life follows from this need, for it is law that supplies the notions of good that shape the soul's understanding and it is law, especially its limits, that provides the most evident display of the soul's enduring hopes. According to Stern, Dante places inquiry regarding human nature and its good at the heart of philosophic investigation, thereby rehabilitating the highest form of reasoned judgment or prudence. Philosophy thus understood is neither a body of doctrines easily situated in a Christian framework nor a set of intellectual tools best used for predetermined theological ends, but a way of life. Stern's claim that Dante was arguing for prudence against dogmatisms of every kind addresses a question of contemporary concern: whether reason can guide a life. When political theorists teach the history of political philosophy, they typically skip from the ancient Greeks and Cicero to Augustine in the fifth century and Thomas Aquinas in the thirteenth, and then on to the origins of modernity with Machiavelli and beyond. Paul Stern aims to change this settled narrative and makes a powerful case for treating Dante Alighieri, arguably the greatest poet of medieval Christendom, as a political philosopher of the first rank.0In 'Dante's Philosophical Life', Stern argues that 'Purgatorio''s depiction of the ascent to Earthly Paradise, that is, the summit of Mount Purgatory, was intended to give instruction on how to live the philosophic life, understood in its classical form as "love of wisdom." As an object of love, however, wisdom must be sought by the human soul, rather than possessed. But before the search can be undertaken, the soul needs to consider from where it begins: its nature and its good. In Stern's interpretation of 'Purgatorio', Dante's intense concern for political life follows from this need, for it is law that supplies the notions of good that shape the soul's understanding and it is law, especially its limits, that provides the most evident display of the soul's enduring hopes Machine Generated Contents Note: Ch. 1 Politics, Poetry, And Philosophy In Purgatorio -- Ch. 2 What Good Would Climbing Do?: The Rationale And Impetus For The Pursuit Of Self-knowledge (cantos I -- Ix) -- Ch. 3 To A Better Nature You Lie Subject: The Political Character Of Humanity And Nature (cantos X -- Xvii) -- Ch. 4 Disrobing The Siren: The Zealous Pursuit Of Clarity (cantos Xvii -- Xix) -- Ch. 5 When Love Breathes Within Me: The Desirability Of Desire (cantos Xix -- Xxvii) -- Ch. 6 The Nest For Human Nature: Earthly Paradise And The Happiness In This Life (cantos Xxviii -- Xxxiii) -- Ch. 7 Dante's Human Wisdom. Paul Stern. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.