Barlaam of Seminara on Stoic Ethics: Text, Translation, and Interpretative Essays

This volume presents the first critical edition and translation of Barlaam of Seminara's Ethics According to the Stoics, along with interpretive essays that explore its content and context. Barlaam's text offers a unique perspective on Stoic ethics, drawing on his experience in the Byzantine intellectual world and providing a different account of the Stoic theory of emotions than other sources. The volume includes essays on each of the two books of the treatise, as well as a biographical introduction and an essay on the reception of Stoicism in the Middle Ages and early Renaissance.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 238 pages
Publication date: 23 September 2022
Publisher: JCB Mohr (Paul Siebeck)

This comprehensive volume presents the first critical edition and translation of Barlaam of Seminara's renowned fourteenth-century treatise, Ethics According to the Stoics. Accompanied by a series of interpretative essays, these essays delve into the content and context of Barlaam's work, shedding light on its historical significance and philosophical implications. Barlaam's text stands as a pioneering interpretative work on Stoic ethics, born during the flourishing Italian Renaissance but also influenced by his experiences in the Byzantine intellectual world of Constantinople. What makes his text particularly intriguing is its unique perspective on the Stoic theory of emotions, which diverges from other known sources, possibly drawing from now-lost sources accessible to Barlaam.

The volume encompasses interpretive essays on both books of Barlaam's treatise, providing a deeper understanding of his philosophical ideas. Additionally, it includes a biographical introduction that offers insights into Barlaam's life and intellectual journey, as well as an essay that situates his work within the broader context of the reception of Stoicism in the Middle Ages and early Renaissance.

By presenting Barlaam's treatise in its original form and through the lens of these interpretative essays, this volume offers a valuable contribution to the study of Stoic philosophy and its influence on medieval and early Renaissance thought. It provides scholars and enthusiasts with a comprehensive and accessible entry point into Barlaam's philosophical ideas, making it an essential resource for anyone interested in the history of philosophy and the development of Stoic thought.

Weight: 372g
Dimension: 157 x 236 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783161595271