The Cambridge Companion to Renaissance Philosophy provides an introduction to a complex period of change in the subject matter and practice of philosophy. The philosophy of the fourteenth through sixteenth centuries is often seen as transitional between the scholastic philosophy of the Middle Ages and modern philosophy, but the essays collected here, by a distinguished international team of contributors, call these assumptions into question, emphasizing both the continuity with scholastic philosophy and the role of Renaissance philosophy in the emergence of modernity. They explore the ways in which the science, religion and politics of the period reflect and are reflected in its philosophical life, and they emphasize the dynamism and pluralism of a period which saw both new perspectives and enduring contributions to the history of philosophy. This will be an invaluable guide for students of philosophy, intellectual historians, and all who are interested in Renaissance thought.

 Offers fresh looks at the original contributions of a period often defined by its revivals of ancient philosophies  Includes a chronology and short biographies of Renaissance philosophers such as Erasmus, Montaigne and Machiavelli for reference  Provides a guide to the most distinctive themes of the period

Contents
1. Introduction James Hankins; Part I. Continuity and Revival: 2. The philosopher and Renaissance culture Robert Black; 3. Humanism, scholasticism and Renaissance philosophy James Hankins; 4. Continuity and change in the Aristotelian tradition Luca Bianchi; 5. The revival of Platonic philosophy Christopher S. Celenza; 6. The revival of Hellenistic philosophies Jill Kraye; 7. Arabic philosophy and Averroism Dag Nikolaus Hasse; 8. How to do magic and why: philosophical prescriptions Brian Copenhaver; Part II. Towards Modern Philosophy: 9. Nicholas of Cusa and modern philosophy Dermot Moran; 10. Lorenzo Valla and the rise of human dialectic Lodi Nauta; 11. The immortality of the soul Paul Richard Blum; 12. Philosophy and the crisis of religion Peter Harrison; 13. Hispanic scholastic philosophy John P. Doyle; 14. New visions of the cosmos Miguel Granada; 15. Organization of knowledge Ann M. Blair; 16. Humanistic and scholastic ethics David Lines; 17. The problem of the Prince Eric Nelson; 18. The significance of renaissance philosophy James Hankins; Appendices: 1. Chronology; 2. Short biographies of Renaissance philosophers.