Problem of Universals from Boethius to John of Salisbury

Roberto Pinzani, Ph.D., University of Parma, Associate Professor - disciplinary sector Logic and Philosophy of Science. He has published monographs and many articles in the field of history of logic, including The Logical Grammar of Abelard, Kluwer ("Synthese Historical Library"), Dordrecht 2005.

• Introduction1 The Problem1.1 Abstract Entities1.2 Predicates1.3 The Relation of Predication in Aristotle1.4 How Many Questions?2 Boethius on General Terms2.1 Browsing through Logical Texts2.2 Meaning and Truth2.3 Genera and Species2.4 The Problem of Universals (In Isag. I)2.5 The Problem of Universals (In Isag. II)3 The Metaphysical System of Scotus Eriugena3.1 Preliminary Remarks3.2 Nature3.3 Objects of Thought3.4 Essences and Forms3.5 Universal Entities4 Realist Theories in the 11th–12th Centuries4.1 Justification and Realism4.2 The First Realist Thesis (antiqua sententia)4.3 A Variant of TR1?4.4 Other Realist Theses4.5 The Missing Thesis5 The ‘Nominal’ Stance: Garland the Computist and Abelard’s Literal Glosses5.1 The Heretics of Dialectics5.2 Garland on the Five Predicables5.3 The Commentary on Aristotle’s Categories5.4 The Literal Glosses6 Walter of Mortagne and the Identity Theory6.1 The Text of BN 17813, 1–166.2 Walter’s Criticism of Realism6.3 The Identity Theory6.4 Objections and Answers7 The De Generibus et Speciebus and the Theory of Collectio7.1 Some Historical Questions7.2 Criticism of Contemporary Theories of Universals7.3 The Collectio Theory 7.4 On Meaning7.5 Objections and Answers8 The Position of Abelard on Porphyry8.1 Texts and Contexts8.2 The Problem of Universals in the Logica Ingredientibus8.3 The Resumption of the Theme in the Logica Nostrorum8.4 Universal Predicates9 Gilbert of Poitiers9.1 The Distinction between id quod est and esse9.2 Matter, Form, Nature9.3 Categorization9.4 Particulars9.5 Mathematical Entities and Universals10 John of Salisbury on Universals10.1 Background10.2 Theses on Universals10.3 John’s Point of View10.4 The Value of Pronouns10.5 The quale quidBibliographyIndex