God, Belief, and Perplexity

by William E. Mann

Overview

This volume presents fourteen of William E. Mann's essays on three prominent figures in late Patristic and early medieval philosophy: Augustine, Anselm, and Peter Abelard. The essays explore some of the quandaries, arguments, and theories presented in their writings. The essays in this volume complement those to be found in Mann's God, Modality, and Morality (OUP, 2015). While the essays in God, Modality, and Morality are primarily essays in philosophical theology, those found in the present volume are more varied. Some still deal with issues in philosophical theology. Other essays are aporetic in nature, discussing cases of philosophical perplexity, sometimes but not always leaving the cases unresolved.

All the essays display, directly or indirectly, the philosophical influence that Augustine has had. His Confessions is a rich source for philosophical puzzlement. Individual essays examine his reflections on the alleged innocence of infants, which raises questions about cognitive, emotional, and linguistic development; his juvenile theft of pears and its relation to moral motivation; and his struggle with and resolution of the problem of evil. One essay presents the rudiments of an Augustinian moral theory, rooted in his understanding of the Sermon on the Mount. Another essay illustrates the theory by discussing his writings on lying. Mann argues that Abelard amplified Augustine's moral theory by emphasizing the crucial role that intention plays in wrongdoing.

Augustine bequeathed to Anselm the notion of "faith seeking understanding." Mann argues that this methodological slogan shapes Anselm's "ontological argument" for God's existence and his efforts to explicate the doctrine of the Trinity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190459208
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	06/01/2016
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.40(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

William E. Mann received his Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Minnesota. Having previously taught at St. Olaf College and Illinois State University, he has been a professor in the University of Vermont's Department of Philosophy since 1974, retiring as Marsh Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy in 2010. His areas of specialization include the philosophy of religion, ancient philosophy and medieval philosophy. He also has interests in logic, the philosophy of logic, ethics and metaphysics. Professor Mann's most recent published work includes essays on the interpretation of Augustine and various medieval philosophers and a series of essays in philosophical theology.

Table of Contents

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Introduction

Section I: Augustine
1. The Philosopher in the Crib
2. The Theft of the Pears
3. Pride and Preference: A Reply to MacDonald
4. The Life of the Mind in Dramas and Dreams
5. Augustine on Evil and Original Sin
6. Inner-Life Ethics
7. To Catch a Heretic: Augustine on Lying
8. Perplexity and Mystery

Section II: Abelard
9. Abelard's Ethics: The Inside Story

Section III: Anselm
10. Definite Descriptions and the Ontological Argument
11. The Ontological Presuppositions of the Ontological Argument
12. The Perfect Island
13. Locating the Lost Island
14. Anselm on the Trinity

Index

Editorial Reviews

"Ultimately, Mann's volume is a philosophically stimulating collection, and his emphasis on perplexity throughout serves as a welcome reminder that the questions we raise can be as consequential as the ones we manage to answer." —Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

From the Publisher