Abstract

There is no more satisfying philosopher to read than Aristotle. That is because he presents a more coherent and comprehensive system of thought than that of any philosopher who ever came after him. The best example of this unity of his thought is that no philosopher either before or after him has ever integrated ontology and ethics as thoroughly as did Aristotle. Even though we do not any longer call him “the philosopher,” as the medievals did, there has probably been more written about him than has been written about any other philosopher. For that reason, any new book about Aristotle has the very difficult task of saying something new and significant about his philosophy. Yet, Richard Bodéüs has performed that difficult task well in this very important new book about one of the most misunderstood aspects of Aristotle’s thought: his theology. Indeed, this is the best book I have ever read about Aristotle’s theology, and the role of theology in Greek thought both before and after him. It will, no doubt, be the criterion of discussion about this indispensable topic for Aristotelian scholarship for many years to come.