<i>Fifty Key Medieval Thinkers</i> (review)
Jason Taliadoros
218 Reviews Parergon 20.1 (2003) The book has no footnotes or endnotes, presumably so as to appeal a general audience. At the end there is section of ‘Further Reading’ which presents an annotated bibliography for each chapter. references provided are all top quality. However, reader wishing follow up certain anecdote in text will not necessarily know from many this been taken. Some brief pointers body would have helped here. Like books on medieval Britain, most examples come England, although useful sections Scotland particular point out where customs one country differed those another. Elizabeth Freeman School History and Classics University Tasmania Evans, Gillian R., Fifty Key Medieval Thinkers, London/New York, Routledge, 2002; paper; pp. xxxiv, 183; RRP US$18.95; ISBN 041523663. This slim attractively produced volume part Routledge ‘Key’ series, includes titles such Jewish Thinkers Major Philosophers. Dr. Evans’ work surveys fifty ‘key’ figures who shaped intellectual life period 354-1495 CE. For task, author self-consciously adopts pedagogic technique known accessus, informal introductory by teacher introduced students new book, providing name work, its author, subject matter (materia), purpose (intentio) manner it treat (modus tractandi). format, likewise, figures, summary that thinker’s life, main theories influence, followed short select list further reading. Each entry varies length three four pages about ten pages, proceeds roughly chronological order. Evans introduces collection with essay outlines literary genres, notion authorities, interpretative techniques development disciplines language, were peculiar Middle Ages. Such accessus only provides essential reading undergraduate student sources, but also more experienced researcher teacher. calls upon her nearly thirty years scholarship theology, philosophy liberal arts, concludes: ‘The great achievement 219 Ages was technical precision use logic language conduct weighing exercise [reasoning]’ (p. xxxii). choice entries, acknowledges, arbitrary thinkers included ‘important their time’ ‘had things say still being taken seriously’ viii). Anselm Canterbury be representative latter category ‘sheer durability his ideas’ ‘their intrinsic value importance’ 71). emphasis theologians philosophers. Many omitted characterizes important ‘supporting players’. geographical coverage limited Western Europe. As explains, East did undergo Latins’ ‘Aristotelian grapple’ vii). ‘top fifty’ interesting inclusions omissions. Along Augustine, Ambrose Jerome represent late classical patristic tradition. inclusion Cassiodorus justifiable, Pseudo-Dionysius rather surprising. Boethius Pope Gregory Great natural later Church Fathers, along Isidore Seville Bede. several writers Carolingian postCarolingian cultural milieu, Paschasius Radbertus, Johannes Scotus Eriugena, Hincmar Rheims Remigius Auxerre, omits Alcuin. Also present Gerbert Aurillac Berengar Tours, Lanfranc Bec, Berengar’s arch contagonist. Among eleventh-century canonist Ivo Chartres, Gratian’s Decretum deemed worthy pantheon greats. twelfth century, alone could doubt own key thinkers, significant Hugh St. Victor, Adelard Bath, Rupert Deutz, Peter Abelard Bernard Clairvaux...
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