The Philosophy of Piers Plowman The Ethics and Epistemology of Love
This book examines William Langland’s late medieval poem, The Vision of Piers Plowman, in light of contemporary intellectual thought. David Strong argues that where the philosophers John Duns Scotus and William of Ockham revolutionize the view of human po
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The New Middle Ages is a series dedicated to pluridisciplinary studies of medieval cultures, with particular emphasis on recuperating women’s history and on feminist and gender analyses. This peer-reviewed series includes both scholarly monographs and essay collections.
More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/14239
David Strong
The Philosophy of Piers Plowman The Ethics and Epistemology of Love in Late Medieval Thought
David Strong Department of Literature & Languages The University of Texas at Tyler Tyler, Texas, USA
The New Middle Ages ISBN 978-3-319-51980-7 DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-51981-4
ISBN 978-3-319-51981-4 (eBook)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017937070 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2017 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Cover illustration: Getty Images/ Garsya Printed on acid-free paper This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
To the font of love, Christie, Alexa & Gavin
CONTENTS
1 Introduction
1
2 The Interconnection Between Langland, Scotus, and Ockham
13
3 The Natural Rights of Virtue
53
4 Will’s Need to Know
73
5 The Primacy of the Will and the Love It Produces
99
6 The Role of Charity in Knowing Truth
133
7 The Continual Pursuit of Love
163
Bibliography
205
Index
217
vii
CHAPTER 1
Introduction
The seemingly uneven construction of William Langland’s fourteenthcentury poem The Vision of Piers Plowman resists any linear interpretation or uniform reading experience. Its enigmatic ending precludes any closure. Its narrative rhythm, especially between the visions, can be abrupt and stilted, undermining the imaginative flow. Its main character, Will, searches for a truth t
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