Modalities in Medieval Philosophy

by Simo Knuuttila

Overview

Originally published in 1993, Modalities in Medieval Philosophy looks at the idea of modality as multiplicity of reference with respect to alternative domains. The book examines how this emerged in early medieval discussions and addresses how it was originally influenced by the theological conception of God acting by choice. After a discussion of ancient modal paradigms, the author traces the interplay of old and new modal views in medieval logic and semantics, philosophy and theology. A detailed account is given of late medieval discussions of the new modal logic, epistemic logic, and the logic norms. These theories show striking similarities to some basic tenets of contemporary approaches to modal matters. This work will be of considerable interest to historians of philosophy and ideas and philosophers of logic and metaphysics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780429619199
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	07/02/2019
Series:	Routledge Library Editions: The Medieval World , #29
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	246
File size:	1 MB

Table of Contents

Preface 1. Modalities in Aristotle and Other Ancient Authors 2. Philosophical and Theological Modalities in Early Medieval Thought 3. Varieties of Necessity and Possibility in the Thirteenth Century 4. Fourteenth-Century Approaches to Modality 5. Medieval Discussions of Applied Modal Logic Bibliography Index of Names Index of Subjects

Editorial Reviews

Argues that the modern idea of modality as the multiplicity of reference with respect to alternative domains emerged in early medieval discussions, and was originally influenced by the theological conception of God acting by choice. Knuuttila (theological ethics and philosophy of religion, U. of Helsinki) outlines the ancient modal paradigms, traces their interplay with new ideas, and demonstrates the application of the synthesis in a variety of fields. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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