Books in the Great Medieval Thinkers series

G.R. Evans provides a concise introduction to St Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), a major figure on the 12th-century monastic and theological scene. After an overview of his life, Evans focuses on his theologies, such as his theology of the political life of the Church and of spirituality.

This is an introduction the thought of Robert Holcot, a Dominican friar who flourished in the 1330's. Although Holcot produced a diverse and influential body of work-including scholastic treatises, biblical commentaries, and sermons-he is often overlooked today. In this book John Slotemaker and Jeffrey Witt restore Holcot to his rightful place as one of the most important thinkers of his time.

Introduces the thoughts of the Franciscan theologian St Bonaventure, and focuses on the relation between philosophy and theology in the work of this neglected thinker, revealing Bonaventure as a synthesizer. The author's exposition shows Bonaventure's debt to Augustine, while making clear how he was influenced by Aristotle.

A detailed introduction to the thought of John Buridan (c.1300-1362). Aside from the fact that he taught at the University of Paris and was twice its Rector, very little is known of Buridan's life, and the book thus focuses entirely on his writings, mainly commentaries on Aristotle and his thought.

Philipp W. Rosemann begins by demonstrating how the Book of Sentences grew out of a long tradition of Christian reflection rooted in Scripture, which by the 12th century had become ready to transform itself into a theological system. Turning to the Sentences , Rosemann then offers a brief exposition of the Lombard's life and work.

Robert Grosseteste (c.1168-1253) was the initiator of the English scientific tradition, one of the first chancellors of Oxford University, and a famous teacher and commentator on the newly discovered works of Aristotle. In this book, James McEvoy provides the first general, inclusive overview of the entire range of Grosseteste's massive intellectual achievement.

This is an introduction to the 9th-century philosopher and theologian John Scottus Eriugena, perhaps the most important philosophical thinker in Latin Christendom in the period between Augustine and Anselm. Eriugena was known as the interpreter of Greek thought to the Latin West.

Robert Kildwardby is an accessible overview of the life and works of Robert Kilwardby, one of the most influential but under-studied thinkers of the Late Middle Ages. Silva offers a clear account of Kilwardby's work as a philosopher and theologian, addressing the full scope of his work and its historical significance in regards to the developments of later medieval philosophy.

Sandra Visser and Thomas Williams offer a brief, accessible introduction to the life and thought of St. Anselm (c. 1033-1109). Anselm, who was Archbishop of Canterbury for the last 16 years of his life, is unquestionably one of the foremost philosopher-theologians of the Middle Ages.

This brief, accessible introduction to the thought of Boethius offers a survey of the philosopher's life and work, going on to explicate his theological method. It devotes separate chapters to his various arguments and traces his influence on the work of such thinkers as Aquinas and Duns Scotus.

Presents a brief introduction to the lives and thought of two of the most controversial personalities of the Middle Ages. Abelard and Heloise are familiar names. It is their "star quality," argues the author, that has prevented them from being seen clearly in the context of 12th-century thought - that task he has set himself in this book.

Part of the "Great Medieval Thinkers" series, this book focuses on an Islamic philosopher. It offers an introduction to the thought of the philosopher, Al-Kindi (died roughly 870 AD). It surveys what is known of Al-Kindi's life, examines his thought on a range of topics, and considers the relationship of Al-Kindi's work to his Greek sources.

The nature and content of the thought of Duns Scotus (c.1266-1308) remains largely unknown except by the expert. This book provides an accessible account of Scotus's theology, focusing both on what is distinctive in his thought, and on issues where his insights might prove to be of perennial value.