Melanchthon: Orations on Philosophy and Education

by Melanchthon , Edited by Sachiko Kusukawa , Translated by Christine F. Salazar

• ISBN13: 9780521583503
• ISBN10: 0521583500
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-05-13
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Philip Melanchthon (14971560), humanist and colleague of Martin Luther, is best known for his educational reforms, for which he earned the title Praeceptor Germaniae (the Teacher of Germany). His most influential form of philosophical writing was the academic oration, and this volume presents a large and wide-ranging selection of his orations and textbook prefaces translated into English. They set out his views on the distinction between faith and reason, the role of philosophy in education, moral philosophy, natural philosophy, astronomy and astrology, and the importance of philosophy to a true Christian, as well as his views on Classical philosophical authorities such as Plato and Aristotle and on contemporaries such as Erasmus and Luther. Powerfully influential in their time, inspiring many Protestant students to study philosophy, mathematics and natural philosophy, they illuminate the relationship between Renaissance and Reformation thought.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	ix
Introduction	xi
Chronology	xxxii
Further reading	xxxiv
Note on the text	xxxviii
The scope of education	1	(26)
On the order of learning	3	(6)
On the role of the schools	9	(14)
On the distinction between the Gospel and philosophy	23	(4)
The arts course	27	(140)
On the study of languages	29	(9)
Preface to Homer	38	(16)
On the usefulness of fables	54	(6)
Praise of eloquence	60	(19)
Preface to Cicero's On Duties	79	(5)
Dedicatory letter to the Questions on Dialectics	84	(6)
Preface to arithemetic	90	(8)
Preface to geometry	98	(7)
Preface to On the Sphere	105	(8)
On astronomy and geography	113	(7)
The dignity of astrology	120	(6)
On philosophy	126	(7)
On natural philosophy	133	(6)
Dedicatory letter to the Epitome of Moral Philosophy	139	(5)
Preface to the Commentary on the Soul	144	(8)
Preface to the Book on the Soul	152	(6)
On anatomy	158	(9)
The higher faculties	167	(22)
On the merit of the art of medicine	169	(6)
On the merit of laws	175	(7)
On the merit of studying theology	182	(7)
Authorities	189	(76)
On Plato	191	(13)
On Aristotle	204	(8)
On the life of Galen	212	(8)
On the life of Avicenna	220	(7)
On the life of Rudolf Agricola	227	(9)
On Johannes Regiomontanus	236	(12)
On Erasmus of Rotterdam	248	(8)
At Luther's funeral	256	(9)
Index	265