Early Modern Aristotle

Eva Del Soldato teaches Romance languages at the University of Pennsylvania.

• ChronologyIntroductionChapter 1. Comparing Philosophers: How to Elevate or Undermine an AuthorityChapter 2. Comparationes and External AidsChapter 3. Learning, Protecting, Advertising: Comparationes in University HallsChapter 4. Customizing Authorities: Legends, Anecdotes, FictionsChapter 5. If Aristotle Were Alive, or the Paradoxical Ways of AuthorityEpilogueAppendix A. Preface by Alfonso Pandolfi to His ComparatioAppendix B. Federico Pendasio's ComparatioAppendix C. Skeptical Attitudes Toward Philosophical ConcordiaeAppendix D. Francesco Vimercato's De DogmatibusNotesBibliographyIndexAcknowledgments

"[I]mmense scholarship . . . A review cannot do justice the enormous mass of primary literature Del Soldato treats in the course of her work. Indeed, despite its relatively modest size, Early Modern Aristotle is destined to become a standard reference work for all scholars investigating any aspect not simply of Aristotelianism but also of subjects as varied as Protestantism, Cartesianism, and science in the Renaissance." (Modern Philology) "Although stating that Aristotle was a great philosopher is a truism, he and his philosophy remain fascinating to scholars; Del Soldato's book is an excellent example of this fascination..[T]he book gives a detailed and well written overview of the fortune of Aristotle's authority, its use and abuse in early modern Europe, which will undoubtedly be of interest to any scholar of Aristotelianism and anyone interested in the circulation of thought and intellectual trends." (Renaissance Quarterly) "An ambitious and beautifully researched volume, Early Modern Aristotle tackles a crucial component of Aristotle's legacy: namely, the notion of authority that has informed the philosopher's reception through the ages...Early Modern Aristotle sets the bar high, providing scholars with indispensable bearings for digging a goldmine – the Aristotelian tradition –that still awaits to be fully researched." (Erudition and the Republic of Letters) "Early Modern Aristotle admirably demonstrates the pervasive role of Aristotelian authority in the period's philosophical, intellectual, religious, and literary disputes. Offering a comprehensive account of previously examined elements along with an abundance of new materials, the book is a substantial and original contribution to our understanding of a notable feature of early modern thinking." (Jill Kraye, University of London) "Emphasizing the flexibility and ambiguity of philosophical authority that allowed the evocation of Aristotle for multiple purposes, often for contradictory and paradoxical motivations that include the reconciliation, subordination, or even dismantling of his philosophy, Eva Del Soldato provides a valuable reassessment of how the legacy of ancient philosophy functioned in early modern Europe." (Craig Martin, Università Ca'Foscari, Venice)