Abstract

Based on the 1965 Moody edition of Ockham’s Expositio in librum Porphyrii de praedicabilibus, this work is the fruit of the efforts of L. Valcke and R. Galibois. The former gives a capable, but quite debatable, introduction to the issues raised by the text. After a presentation of the various meanings of ‘realism’ and ‘nominalism', he attempts to clarify in what sense these labels can each be applied to the Venerable Inceptor. He raises the key issues of the Porphyry commentary, and he tries to demonstrate what he considers some unresolved tensions in Ockham’s thought, particularly in relation to this work. Galibois provides a complete French translation of Porphyry’s text itself along with a competent and readable rendition of Ockham’s Expositio. Generally his translation stays close to the Latin text, and when he takes liberties he is faithful to the sense.