Medieval Skepticism, and the Claim to Metaphysical Knowledge

Medieval Skepticism, and the Claim to Metaphysical Knowledge presents three sets of essays. The first is an exchange between Antoine CÃ ́tÃ(c) and Charles Bolyard over Siger of Brabantâ (TM)s strategy to silence the skeptic by discriminating between nobler and lesser senses and grounding certitude in sense perceptions. Second is another scholarly exchange, between Rondo Keele and Jack Zupko, over what Keele describes as Walter Chattonâ (TM)s attempt to discredit Ockhamist nominalism by means of both an â ~anti-razorâ (TM), employed by Chatton to prescribe ontological commitment, and an argument strategy based on iteration and infinite regress. The last group of essays explores issues that develop out of the metaphysics of Thomas Aquinas. Joshua Hochschild defends several key positions of Thomistic metaphysics against Anthony Kennyâ (TM)s criticism that Aquinasâ (TM)s treatment of being is inadequate, incoherent or even sophistic. Similarly, David Twetten, after laying out Aquinasâ (TM)s nine versions of the proof for the Real Distinction between essence and esse, suggests one way in which Aquinas could meet the Aristotelianâ (TM)s formidable â ~Question-Begging Objectionâ (TM). Lastly, Scott M. Williams contends that to preserve Godâ (TM)s perfect knowledge of individual material creatures, Aquinas must alter his account of the unintelligibility of prime matter in the individuation of material creatures.