Why do good things happen to bad people? Can we prove if God exists? Why should we be moral? Medieval philosophers were centrally concerned with such questions, which are as relevant today as a thousand years ago when the likes of Anselm and Aquinas sought to resolve them. In this whistle-stop tour of medieval philosophy, Sharon M. Kaye shows the remarkable breadth of thought that defined the period, and reveals the debt it owes to Aristotle and Plato. With new translations of key extracts and including helpful textboxes detailing the leading thinkers, Kaye directly introduces the reader to the central arguments and explores the criticisms raised against them. Informative and entertaining, this is a comprehensive primer for students and general readers alike. Sharon M. Kaye is Associate Professor of Philosophy at John Carroll University, Ohio. She is the author of On Ockham and On Augustine.

William Irwin, Professor of Philosophy, King's College Pennsylvania and Editor of The Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series - "Beautifully written and wonderfully accessible. Discussing all the major thinkers and topics of the period, Kaye's volume does exactly what it should."Martin Tweedale, Professor Emeritus of Medieval Philosophy, University of Alberta - "Simultaneously entices students into and prepares them for the riches of the abundant literature that lies ready for their exploration."