{"product_id":"in-defense-of-common-sense-lodi-nauta-9780674032699","title":"In Defense of Common Sense: Lorenzo Valla's Humanist Critique of Scholastic Philosophy","description":"\u003cp\u003eOne of the leading humanists of Quattrocento Italy, Lorenzo Valla (ca. 1406-1457) has been praised as a brilliant debunker of medieval scholastic philosophy. In this book Lodi Nauta seeks a more balanced assessment, presenting us with the first comprehensive analysis of the humanist's attempt at radical reform of Aristotelian scholasticism. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis study examines Valla's attack on major tenets of Aristotelian metaphysics, showing how Valla employed common sense and linguistic usage as his guides. It then explicates Valla's critique of Aristotelian psychology and natural philosophy and discusses his moral and religious views, including Valla's notorious identification of Christian beatitude with Epicurean pleasure and his daring views on the Trinity. Finally, it takes up Valla's humanist dialectic, which seeks to transform logic into a practical tool measured by persuasiveness and effectiveness. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eNauta firmly places Valla's arguments and ideas within the contexts of ancient and medieval philosophical traditions as well as renewed interest in ancient rhetoric in the Renaissance. He also demonstrates the relevance of Valla's conviction that the philosophical problems of the scholastics are rooted in a misunderstanding of language. Combining philosophical exegesis and historical scholarship, this book offers a new approach to a major Renaissance thinker.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Lodi Nauta\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0674032691\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780674032699\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Harvard University Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 03\/31\/2009\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 416\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.55lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.10h x 6.50w x 1.30d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChronicle of Higher Education\u003c\/i\u003e 04\/17\/2009 pg. 22\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 09\/01\/2009","brand":"Lodi Nauta","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48086756589823,"sku":"9780674032699","price":60.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_fd8e4e84-4289-4ef0-ac6f-f2271b33fa49.jpg?v=1769096396","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/in-defense-of-common-sense-lodi-nauta-9780674032699","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}