The Problem of Universals from Boethius to John of Salisbury (Brill's Studies in Intellectual History)

The problem of universals is one of the main philosophical issues. In this book the author reconstructs the history of the problem considering a selection of medieval representative texts and authors. The source of medieval and postmedieval debate is identified in the Socratic-Platonic survey on the definition of concepts. In the 'Categories', Aristotle discusses important topics concerning the relations that exist between logical terms. In particular he establishes a kind of predication principle: categorial terms have a certain predication relation if (and only if) some facts expressed by ordinary sentences hold. The 'Categories' also because of their particular disciplinary status, halfway between logic and metaphysics, leave a number of questions open. Among these questions, a particularly intriguing one is Porphyry's riddle: are there genera and species? And, if there are such things, what are they like? Contents Introduction Chapter 1. The Problem 1.1 Abstract Entities 1.2 Predicates 1.3 The Relation of Predication in Aristotle 1.4 How Many Questions? Chapter 2. Boethius on General Terms 2.1 Browsing through Logical Texts 2.2 Meaning and Truth 2.3 Genera and Species 2.4 The Problem of Universals ('In Isag.' I) 2.5 The Problem of Universals ('In Isag.' II) Chapter 3. The Metaphysical System of Scotus Eriugena 3.1 Preliminary Remarks 3.2 Nature 3.3 Objects of Thought 3.4 Essences and Forms 3.5 Universal Entities Chapter 4. Realist Theories in the 11th–12th Centuries 4.1 Justification and Realism 4.2 The First Realist Thesis ('antiqua sententia') 4.3 A Variant of TR1? 4.4 Other Realist Theses 4.5 The Missing Thesis Chapter 5. The 'Nominal' Stance: Garland the Computist and Abelard’s 'Literal Glosses' 5.1 The Heretics of Dialectics 5.2 Garland on the Five Predicables 5.3 The Commentary on Aristotle’s 'Categories' 5.4 The 'Literal Glosses' Chapter 6. Walter of Mortagne and the Identity Theory 6.1 The Text of BN 17813, 1–16 6.2 Walter’s Criticism of Realism 6.3 The Identity Theory 6.4 Objections and Answers Chapter 7. 'The De Generibus et Speciebus' and the 'Theory of Collectio' 7.1 Some Historical Questions 7.2 Criticism of Contemporary Theories of Universals 7.3 The 'Collectio' Theory 7.4 On Meaning 7.5 Objections and Answers Chapter 8. The Position of Abelard on Porphyry 8.1 Texts and Contexts 8.2 The Problem of Universals in the 'Logica Ingredientibus' 8.3 The Resumption of the Theme in the 'Logica Nostrorum' 8.4 Universal Predicates Chapter 9. Gilbert of Poitiers 9.1 The Distinction between 'id quod est' and 'esse' 9.2 Matter, Form, Nature 9.3 Categorization 9.4 Particulars 9.5 Mathematical Entities and Universals Chapter 10. John of Salisbury on Universals 10.1 Background 10.2 Theses on Universals 10.3 John’s Point of View 10.4 The Value of Pronouns 10.5 The 'quale quid' Bibliography Index "The problem of universals is one of the main philosophical issues. In this book the author reconstructs the history of the problem considering a selection of medieval representative texts and authors. The source of medieval and post-medieval debate is identified in the Socratic-Platonic survey on the definition of concepts. In the Categories, Aristotle discusses important topics concerning the relationship that exists on the one hand between general terms and, on the other hand, between general and particular terms. The Categories also because of their particular disciplinary status, halfway between logic and metaphysics, leave a number of questions open. Among these questions a particularly intriguing one is Porphyry's riddle: are there genera and species? And, if there are such things, what are they like?"-- Provided by publisher The problem of universals is one of the main philosophical issues. In this book the author reconstructs the history of the problem from Boethius (6th century) to John of Salisbury (12th century), considering a selection of medieval representative texts.