Dante's Divina Commedia/Divine Comedy (completed c.1321) is considered one of the greatest works in Western literature, and its three canticles - Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso - have had a powerful influence on subsequent literature and thought. Dante shares the classical idea that political philosophy aims to defend the philosophic life, and in Paradiso he does just that, defending philosophy, understood as a way of life, against its subordination to Christianity. Paul Stern shows the contribution Dante's reflection on political life makes to his theoretical defense of the philosophic life, a life whose character and goodness is conveyed by his intensely self-reflective poetry. On his account, Dante's approach can guide our judgment of any proposal for the comprehensive transformation of human existence. It enables us, in short, to think more clearly about just what we should mean by paradise.

‘Paul Stern's commentary on the Paradiso is a bold and illuminating study that stands out for its willingness to question even the most authoritative voices in the poem. By treating figures like Aquinas and Peter Damian with philosophical scrutiny rather than deference, Stern reveals how Dante's dramatization of theological discourse becomes a vehicle for sustained philosophical critique. The result is a provocative invitation to scholars of literature, religion, and philosophy alike to read these celestial dialogues not as a culmination of doctrine, but as a vindication of the philosophical life against the pressures of theological enclosure.'

Jason Aleksander - San José State University