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The Trinity, or the First Principle: De Trinitate, Seu De Primo Principio
English (translation)
Original Latin
Original Latin
286 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 1995
32 people want to read
About the author
William of Auvergne
10 booksWilliam of Auvergne (1180/90-1249) was a French priest who served as Bishop of Paris from 1228 until his death in 1249. He is also known as Guillaume d'Auvergne, Guilielmus Alvernus, or William of Paris.
He went to Paris to study and earned a master's degree in Theology at the University of Paris. A Scholastic philosopher, he was made a professor first in the faculty of arts and then in 1220 in that of theology. His theology was systematically Aristotelian, although not uncritically so, and he was the first theologian to attempt to reconcile Aristotle with Christian doctrine, and especially with the teachings of Augustine of Hippo. The Aristotelian texts which were then available in Western Europe were few in number and mostly Arab translations. William sought to rescue Aristotle from the Arabians and worked to refute certain doctrines, such as the eternality of the world and the heresy of Catharism. His major work is the Magisterium Divinale, which has been translated as "Teaching on God in the Mode of Wisdom."
He went to Paris to study and earned a master's degree in Theology at the University of Paris. A Scholastic philosopher, he was made a professor first in the faculty of arts and then in 1220 in that of theology. His theology was systematically Aristotelian, although not uncritically so, and he was the first theologian to attempt to reconcile Aristotle with Christian doctrine, and especially with the teachings of Augustine of Hippo. The Aristotelian texts which were then available in Western Europe were few in number and mostly Arab translations. William sought to rescue Aristotle from the Arabians and worked to refute certain doctrines, such as the eternality of the world and the heresy of Catharism. His major work is the Magisterium Divinale, which has been translated as "Teaching on God in the Mode of Wisdom."
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February 12, 2023
Reading primary sources, one can simply dismantle myths created by historiography. One of them being that William of Auvergne was an avid Aristotelian. Nothing further from the truth.
William grew up and studied in the University of Paris, an elitist university on the 13th century. Aristotle was the main dogma there. He simply acknowledge the importance of philosophy and Aristotle in teaching. Nevertelhess, William worshipped the platonic christian vision of Augustine and criticized extensively aristotelianism and its encroachment on the church.
For example, the Aristotelian idea that we come from the eternal, meaning nothing, and we teleologically go to nothing, was brilliantly and logically refuted by William. Amazing book.
William grew up and studied in the University of Paris, an elitist university on the 13th century. Aristotle was the main dogma there. He simply acknowledge the importance of philosophy and Aristotle in teaching. Nevertelhess, William worshipped the platonic christian vision of Augustine and criticized extensively aristotelianism and its encroachment on the church.
For example, the Aristotelian idea that we come from the eternal, meaning nothing, and we teleologically go to nothing, was brilliantly and logically refuted by William. Amazing book.
Displaying 1 of 1 review