Abstract

The first book devoted to a systematic investigation of the logic of the high Middle Ages, this work demonstrates the magnitude of the achievement of medieval logicians. Broadie focuses on the work of some of the great figures of the 14th century, including Walter Burley, William Ockham, John Buridan, Albert of Saxony, and Paul of Venice, and analyzes their theories of truth conditions and valid conditions. Among the topics considered are the medieval exposition of the quantifier shift fallacy, and the rules of valid inference devised to deal with arguments whose premises are not all present-tensed. Revealing how much of what seems characteristically 20th-century logic was actually familiar long ago, Broadie here demonstrates how medieval logic may yet contribute to the solution of 20th-century problems.