Ockham - Philosophical Writings: A Selection (Paperback)

by William Ockham (Author), Philotheus Boehner (Introduction, Translator), Stephen F. Brown (Introduction) "Past ages have begotten and reared many philosophers distinguished by the title 'sage'..." (more)
Key Phrases: personal suppositio, evidenter probari, primae impositionis, Posterior Analytics, Opus Oxoniense, Duns Scotus (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This volume contains selections of Ockham's philosophical writings which give a balanced introductory view of his work in logic, metaphysics, and ethics. This edition includes textual markings referring readers to appendices containing changes in the Latin text and alterations found in the English translation that have been made necessary by the critical edition of Ockham's work published after Boehner prepared the original text. The updated bibliography includes the most important scholarship produced since publication of the original edition.

Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Latin

Product Details

• Paperback: 167 pages
• Publisher: Hackett Publishing Company; Revised edition (March 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872200787
• ISBN-13: 978-0872200784
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #330,767 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #85 in

  Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Medieval Thought

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Starter Text for Reading Ockham, December 6, 2000

By	T. B. Vick "Learn 2 Discern" (The Lone Star State) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This volume contains a nice amount of material for anyone interested in trying to read and understand Ockham's thought. The introduction is a nice treatise explaining the contents and providing the reader (especially the beginning reader) with a good explanation of Ockham's work. The book itself contains these particular philosophical works: 1) The notion of knowledge or science, 2) epistemological problems, 3) logical problems, 4) the theory of '[supposition,' 5) truth, 6) inferential operations, 7) being, essence, and existence, 8) the possibility of a natural theology, 9) the proof of God's existence 10) God's causality and foreknowledge, and 11) physics and ethics. So as you can see there is enough that is provided in this one volume to give any reader a better grasp on some of the things Ockham taught and espoused. If you are interested in Ockham's logical treatises (which is one of the things he is best known for) then I recommend Alfred J. Fredosso's translation of "Ockham's Theory of Propositions: Part II of the Summa Logicae" which is also available here at Amazon.

5.0 out of 5 stars Hurah for Latin, January 21, 2009

By	student - See all my reviews

So, This text is great. I don't much care for medieval philosophy. It lacks the clarity that contemporary philosophy exhibits, sometimes. Anyways, Medieval Philosophy is always difficult for the english speaking student because it's all originally in Latin. However, this book satisfies the serious student by printing the Latin on the facing page. It is amazing. On several occasions as I was working through one of the sections, I had trouble understanding the arguments due to repitition of words or the use of different words in the English. With the Latin on the facing page, I was able to clear up issues that stem from the vagueness of translations. It was easier to see the string of Ockham's argument when viewing it in his orginal language. The preceeding reviewer expresses some of the books other merits. I just felt that you should all be made aware of the fantastic fact that this book has the original Latin.