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BOOK REVIEWS 321 along with that of Plato, as. . . the two major statements of classical Greek thought." (p. 173) This observation is typical of the introductory material found thoughout the work; it is mainly factual and generalizations are so broad as to offend no one who would harbor a private thesis as to the relative significance of the ancients. The Chapters are followed by series of study questions and a " Thematic Table " enhances the volume's value for college level courses. This latter is a valuable aid in relating the historical aspect of philosophy to the main divisions, as traditionally conceived, of the subject. The themes parcel out the texts found in the anthology under eight headings such as epistemology, psychology and theodicy; it would be a useful classroom task to run both historical and theme approaches, and in this case, at least, it would be feasible. The ten chapters are firmed up with extensive bibliography, quite up-to-date, although one would like to see included some of the more adventuresome interpretations of ancient thought, such as F. Clive's two-volume " The Giants of Pre-Sophistic Greek Philosophy " (Nijhoff, 1965) . The Pennsylvania State University University Park, Penna. JoHN B. DAvis, 0. P. A History of Western Philosophy: Volume II, Philosophy from St. Augustine to Ockham. By RALPH M. MciNERNY. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1970. Pp. 401. $1~.00. To my knowledge this volume represents the latest effort of its kind in the field of Medieval philosophy; it also marks the second volume in a new series devoted to the history of Western philosophy. R. Caponigri and R. Mcinerny have joined efforts in producing a set of textbooks purposely aimed at promoting " the return of the history of philosophy to its rightful place of honor and usefulness in the academic program." (xiii) The fourth volume, Philosophy from the Romantic Age to the Age of Analysis, has not appeared. When it does, the series will compete with that edited under the general direction of E. Gilson (although one volume of that series is, I believe, lacking) . A. Maurer authored the Medieval volume of the Toronto set; it is presently almost ten years old. Certainly a singular feature of Mcinerny's work is that it is not written on the Toronto bias. The author is not in sympathy with the Christian philosophy thesis of E. Gilson. In fact, he implies that the entire raison d'etre of his work is to provide a history of Medieval philosophy which is willing to acknowledge in that period an independent and autonomous BOOK REVIEWS philosophy. " If that phrase [Christian philosophy] accurately described the philosophical contribution of the Middle Ages, we would see little point in writing this present book." (p. 8) Mcinerny's text is suitably done. He discusses everyone who should be discussed, although not everything; e. g., shortshrift is made of the Condemnation of 1Q77 and so-called "Latin Averroism." Also I do find it a mark of disproportion that the author devotes only one paragraph(!) to Jewish thought in the Middle Ages while a whole chapter is devoted to " other ninth and tenth century figures " such as Heiric and Remigius of Auxerre and Gerbert of Aurillac. His style is clear but very academic: at times it languishes under the burden of the material. One questions the need for a " sustained look " of nine pages at Gundissalinus's De divisione philosophiae in a college textbook. While there is ample reference to the primary sources, the bibliographies placed at the end of each section are slim. The volume certainly does not qualify as a reference tool in the way that Gilson's classic, A History of Christian Philosophy in the Middle Ages, does. In brief, the college teacher who wishes to have everything " right there " will find Mcinerny's work a handy instrument and certainly adequate for that purpose. The authors, however, plainly advise instructors to avoid "teaching this book" (xiv) but rather to use it as a guide for creatively planning a course. An alternative program I personally have found more successful for planning a college course in this area is the choice of any number of high quality...

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