The Friar and the Philosopher: William of Moerbeke and the Rise of Aristotle's Science in Medieval Europe

William of Moerbeke was a prolific medieval translator of Aristotle and other ancient philosophical and scientific authors from Greek into Latin. He is often criticized for his alleged deficient translation method, but this book argues that his approach was a deliberate attempt to allow readers to reach the correct understanding of the source texts in accordance with the medieval view of the role of the translator. His project to make all genuine works of Aristotle available in Latin was framed against the background of intellectual life in the 13th century, the deliberate policy of his Dominican order to reconcile Christian doctrine with worldly knowledge, and new trends in book production that influenced the spread of the new translations. His seemingly modest acts of translation started an intellectual revolution, the impact of which extended from the Middle Ages into the early modern era.

Format: Hardback
Length: 160 pages
Publication date: 10 November 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

William of Moerbeke, a renowned medieval translator, played a pivotal role in the widespread acceptance of Aristotelian philosophy in the Latin world. Despite facing criticism for his translation method, this book presents a compelling argument that his approach was intentional, aimed at facilitating readers' understanding of the original texts in alignment with the medieval perspective of the translator's role. Williams' ambitious project to translate all genuine works of Aristotle and other significant ancient authors into Latin is set against the backdrop of 13th-century intellectual life, the Dominican order's deliberate policy of reconciling Christian doctrine with worldly knowledge, and the emerging trends in book production that influenced the dissemination of these new translations.

The seemingly modest acts of translation by William of Moerbeke initiated an intellectual revolution that had far-reaching consequences, extending from the Middle Ages to the early modern era. This book will be of interest to scholars and students alike who are passionate about Medieval interpretations of Aristotle and other works from Antiquity.

Weight: 470g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032305219