{"product_id":"re-evaluating-pico-aristotelianism-kabbalism-and-platonism","title":"Re-evaluating Pico: Aristotelianism, Kabbalism, and Platonism","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of Re-evaluating Pico: Aristotelianism, Kabbalism, and Platonism in the Philosophy of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, the reviewer finds a focused, scholarly reappraisal best suited for readers interested in Renaissance thought and the intersections of religion and philosophy. The book's single biggest reason to buy is its careful argument that Pico represents a deliberate syncretist project, tracing how \u003cstrong\u003ePlatonism, Aristotelianism and Kabbalism\u003c\/strong\u003e were used together in a program to reconcile faith and reason. The prose leans academic but rewards readers seeking a nuanced historical account rather than a general introduction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSyncretist thesis:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book presents a sustained argument that Pico crafted a theological philosophy combining Christianity, Platonism, Aristotelianism and Jewish Kabbalism, helping readers see these traditions in dialogue.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHistorical context:\u003c\/strong\u003e Chapters place Pico's three pillars in their historical settings, clarifying how ideas circulated across religious and intellectual boundaries.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical focus:\u003c\/strong\u003e A chapter on Pico's career and power-relations gives useful background on his position as a Renaissance prince and intellectual actor.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScholarly introductions:\u003c\/strong\u003e The work introduces the circle of scholars around Pico, including figures important to Christian Kabbalism, which aids further research.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClear structure:\u003c\/strong\u003e The book follows a logical progression from introduction to historical chapters, making its argument accessible to readers with prior familiarity.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is primarily for graduate students, researchers, and informed readers of intellectual history who want a compact re-evaluation of Giovanni Pico as a figure working at the intersection of theology and philosophy. Those studying the reception of Platonism and Aristotelianism in Renaissance Christianity will find the analysis directly useful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGeneral readers seeking a beginner's overview of Pico or a popular biography should look elsewhere, as the book assumes some familiarity with philosophical traditions and the history of religious thought rather than offering a broad popular narrative.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProvides a focused argumen t for Pico's syncretist project, useful for scholars of Renaissance philosophy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCarefully situates Platonism, Aristotelianism and Kabbalism in their historical contexts, aiding comparative study.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes attention to Pico's network and power-relations, which illuminates how ideas were transmitted.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAcademic tone and specialized focus limit accessibility for casual readers or newcomers to Renaissance thought.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRe-evaluating Pico: Aristotelianism, Kabbalism, and Platonism in the Philosophy of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSeries\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCritical Political Theory and Radical Practice\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor \/ Brand\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSophia Howlett\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubject focus\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSyncretist theological philosophy combining Christianity, Platonism, Aristotelianism, Jewish Kabbalism\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eContents overview\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntroduction; chapter on Pico's career and power-relations; chapters on Platonism, Aristotelianism and Kabbalism and related scholars\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIntended audience\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScholars, graduate students, readers of intellectual and religious history\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRe-evaluating Pico is a worthwhile purchase for readers seeking a tightly argued scholarly rethinking of Giovanni Pico's project to harmonize faith and reason through multiple philosophical traditions. Its value lies in its careful contextualization and attention to Pico's intellectual circle, making it good value for researchers and advanced students despite a deliberately academic tone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this book argue that Pico created a unified system?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnswer. The author presents Pico as a syncretist who attempted a concordance between philosophy and theology rather than offering a single monolithic system.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho wrote this book?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnswer. The study is by Sophia Howlett and appears in the Critical Political Theory and Radical Practice series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this suitable for beginners?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnswer. The book assumes prior familiarity with Platonic and Aristotelian traditions and will be more useful to advanced students and scholars than to casual readers.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Sophia Howlett","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48680117764315,"sku":"3030595838","price":112.01,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/71lQKjyOBvL._SL1360.jpg?v=1778639667","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/re-evaluating-pico-aristotelianism-kabbalism-and-platonism","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}