Pagans and Philosophers: The Problem of Paganism from Augustine to Leibniz

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From the turn of the fifth century to the beginning of the eighteenth, Christian writers were fascinated and troubled by the "Problem of Paganism," which this book identifies and examines for the first time. How could the wisdom and virtue of the great thinkers of antiquity be reconciled with the fact that they were pagans and, many thought, damned

Reviews

One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2015 "[An] excellent book... If Marenbon leaves a stone unturned ... I didn't notice it... [He] builds a powerful case."--Peter Adamson, Times Literary Supplement "Fascinating ... Marenbon constantly cuts across the standard discussions at a fresh angle, bringing new connections to light."---Noel Malcolm, Standpoint "This reviewer has been waiting for this book for a long time... [Pagans and Philosophers] is fascinating, exciting, compelling, and well worth the wait."--Choice "Overall this is a magnificent study in the history of ideas, executed with great lucidity and exemplary scholarship."--John Cottingham, The Tablet "Beautifully written, highly interesting (never dry or dull), and deserves a wide readership. It is enthusiastically recommended."--Carole M. Cusack, Speculum

Author Bio

John Marenbon is a senior research fellow at Trinity College, University of Cambridge, honorary professor of medieval philosophy at Cambridge, and a fellow of the British Academy. He is the author and editor of many books, including Abelard in Four Dimensions, The Oxford Handbook of Medieval Philosophy, The Cambridge Companion to Boethius, and Medieval Philosophy: An Historical and Philosophical Introduction.