Pontano's Virtues

First secretary to the Aragonese kings of Naples, Giovanni Pontano (1429-1503) was a key figure of the Italian Renaissance. A poet and a philosopher of high repute, Pontano's works offer a reflection on the achievements of fifteenth-century humanism and address major themes of early modern moral and political thought. Taking his defining inspiration from Aristotle, Pontano wrote on topics such as prudence, fortune, magnificence, and the art of pleasant conversation, rewriting Aristotle's Ethics in the guise of a new Latin philosophy, inscribed with the patterns of Renaissance culture. This book shows how Pontano's rewriting of Aristotelian ethics affected not only his philosophical views, but also his political life and his place in the humanist movement. Drawing on Pontano's treatises, dialogues, letters, poems and political writings, Matthias Roick presents us with the first comprehensive study of Pontano's moral and political thought, offering novel insights into the workings of Aristotelian virtue ethics in the early modern period.

Matthias Roick is Freigeist Fellow for the History of Ethics, University of Göttingen, Germany.

Introduction Part I: The 'Great Pontano' 1. The Storms of Life 2. The Haven of Philosophy Part II: Rewriting Moral Philosophy 3. Learned Authority 4. Latin Philosophy Part III: The Secrets of Virtue 5. The Rule of Reason 6. Beyond the Veil Conclusion Appendix 1: Chronology of Pontano's Works Appendix 2: Chronology pf Pontano's Life and Political Events Appendix 3: Moral Virtues in Aristotle and Pontano Notes Bibliography Index