Richard Rufus of Cornwall: Scriptum in Metaphysicam Aristotelis II Zeta to Lambda

This is the editio princeps of the first major scholastic commentary on Aristotle's Metaphysics, edited with features that make the work accessible. A doctrinal index summarizes many of Rufus' principal theses. An index to all the works cited by Rufus includes his many references to Averroes, whom Rufus regarded as his principal guide to the literal meaning of the text. The index generalis lists the principal questions in which Rufus states his more original positions. The extensive footnotes include many references to Rufus' predecessors and contemporaries, which allows readers to contextualize Rufus' interpretation. Finally, the introductions discuss some technical issues and introduce the reader to a few important topics in Rufus' philosophy.

Rega Wood, Professor of Philosophy, Indiana University,Jennifer Ottman, Associate Editor, Richard Rufus of Cornwall Project, Indiana University,Neil Lewis, Professor of Philosophy, Georgetown University

Rega Wood received her PhD from Cornell University. Since 1976, she has prepared critical editions of major works of medieval philosophy and theology, including works by Richard Rufus, John Duns Scotus, William Ockham, and Adam Wodeham. In 1984, she discovered previously unknown works by Richard Rufus of Cornwall and, since 2000, she has been the principal investigator of the Richard Rufus of Cornwall Project (RRP), which is devoted to the preparation of critical editions of the works of Richard Rufus of Cornwall.

Jennifer Ottman earned her PhD at Yale University. She has been associated with the RRP since 1999 and has served as Associate Editor since 2011. She is also a collaborating editor and translator for the Greystones Manuscript Project, which began work in 2011 on the theological writings of the early fourteenth-century English Benedictine Robert Greystones, a volume which was published in 2017.


Neil Lewis obtained his PhD degree at Pittsburgh, developing an interest in medieval philosophy. His research has focused on Robert Grosseteste and early thirteenth-century English philosophy. He is a core member of both the RRP and the Ordered University Project devoted to interdisciplinary study of Grosseteste's scientific works.

AbbreviationsIntroductionScriptum in Metaphysicam Aristotelis: Libri PrincipalesBook VII (Zeta)Book VIII (Eta)Book IX (Theta)Book X (Iota)Book XI (Lambda)ErrataIndices