Objective of the Work

The object of this work is to define Dante's attitude or, if need be, his successive attitudes towards philosophy.

Purpose and Approach

It is therefore a question of ascertaining the character, function and place which Dante assigned to this branch of learning among the activities of man.

My purpose has not been to single out, classify and list Dante's numerous philosophical ideas, still less to look for their sources or to decide what doctrinal influences determined the evolution of his thought.