Henry of Ghent was an important figure at the University of Paris between the death of Aquinas and the arrival of Duns Scotus. As a secular priest, Henry was a member of the commission formed by the Bishop of Paris, Stephen Tempier, that resulted in the famed Condemnations of 1277. Traditional interpretations of Henry's thought have portrayed him as an Augustinian and a supporter of the Condemnations. However, recent research has shown that his actual positions on the Aristotelian issues were more nuanced. This is expressed well by Jules Janssens who argues tongue in cheek that Henry's thought could be characterized as “avicennizing Augustinianism” (85). This phrase displays the difficulty in labeling Henry's thought. It included aspects of Aristotelianism that he borrowed from both Averrroes and Avicenna while remaining for the most part faithful to Augustinian teaching. The contributors agree that it would be better to omit all such characterizations and focus directly on Henry's teaching which is what they do well in this volume.

This collection of essays focuses on several themes including Henry's written legacy and his role in the Condemnations. Other sections deal with his theology, his Trinitarianism, his system of metaphysics, epistemology, moral philosophy, and his influence on Duns Scotus and on Giovanni Pico Della Mirandola. This book is highly technical and requires a working knowledge of Latin, medieval scholastic terms, and the major issues of medieval thought from Aquinas to the Renaissance.