Melanchthon: Orations on Philosophy and Education

Philip Melanchthon (1497–1560), humanist and colleague of Martin Luther, is best known for his educational reforms, for which he earned the title Praeceptor Germaniae (the Teacher of Germany). His most influential form of philosophical writing was the academic oration, and this volume presents a large and wide-ranging selection of his orations and textbook prefaces translated into English. They set out his views on the distinction between faith and reason, the role of philosophy in education, moral philosophy, natural philosophy, astronomy and astrology, and the importance of philosophy to a true Christian, as well as his views on Classical philosophical authorities such as Plato and Aristotle and on contemporaries such as Erasmus and Luther. Powerfully influential in their time, inspiring many Protestant students to study philosophy, mathematics and natural philosophy, they illuminate the relationship between Renaissance and Reformation thought.

• Little of Melanchthon’s philosophy has previously been available in English • Orations cover a wide range of topics: philosophy, theology, mathematics, astronomy, classics • Useful introduction, chronology, notes on further reading

Acknowledgements; Introduction; Chronology; Further reading; Note on the text; Part I. The Scope of Education: 1. On the order of learning; 2. On the role of schools; 3. On the distinction between the Gospel and philosophy; Part II. The Arts Course: 4. On the study of languages; 5. Preface to Homer; 6. On the usefulness of fables; 7. Praise of eloquence; 8. Preface to Cicero’s On Duties; 9. Preface to the Questions on Dialectics; 10. Preface to arithmetic; 11. Preface to geometry; 12. Preface to On the Sphere; 13. On astronomy and geography; 14. The dignity of astrology; 15. On philosophy; 16. On natural philosophy; 17. Dedicatory letter to the Epitome of Moral Philosophy; 18. Preface to the Commentary on the Soul; 19. Preface to the Book on the Soul; 20. On anatomy; Part III. The Higher Faculties: 21. On the merit of the art of medicine; 22. On the merit of laws; 23. On the merit of studying theology; Part IV. Authorities: 24. On Plato; 25. On Aristotle; 26. On the life of Galen; 27. On the life of Avicenna; 28. On the life of Rudolf Agricola; 29. On Johannes Regiomontanus; 30. On Erasmus of Rotterdam; 31. At Luther’s funeral; Index.