Commentary on Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics

Peter Martyr Vermigli (1499-1562) was a scriptural exegete, but also an Aristotelian philosopher. His voluminous commentaries on Old and New Testament books are complemented by this volume, the only one of its kind in his corpus. As such it provides a window into the complex world of early modern European philosophical translation and commentary, as well as the theology and ethics of the Reformed camp. Theological commentaries on Aristotle are an important part of the history of the philosophy-theology connection. Thomas Aquinas is an outstanding example, and Peter Martyr Vermigli follows in his steps. It reflects Martyr's years at Padua studying the "practical Aristotle." This lecture series, given at Strasbourg 1553-56, provides a running commentary, showing the positive take on The Philosopher, along with the decisive criterion of Scripture. It is a major contribution to the debate on "Reformed Scholasticism," which casts Beza, Martyr, and Zanchi as protagonists. It supports the thesis of Richard Muller and others that scholasticism is a method rather than a position, a pedagogical mode of organizing doctrine in behalf of clarity and interior logic.