Abstract

Latin textbooks in metaphysical psychology as in other branches of Scholastic philosophy have a strong family likeness. The same problems are dealt with in the same way; the differences are not striking. But some are better than others, and that of P. Siwek deserves to rank very high indeed. His treatment of most problems is conservative; the same theses and objections occur; but is much fuller than other works of the same class. For the author is not merely an expert on the psychology of Aristotle and Spinoza but has written important works on positive psychology and anthropology. This book has benefited from these researches. There are many new arguments for familiar theses and a large number of scholia deal with topics of general interest seldom raised in metaphysical psychology. His bibliographies are very extensive. For these reasons this fifth edition of P. Siwek’s work is very welcome.