Peter Lombard on God’s Knowledge: Sententiae, Book I, Distinctions 35-38, as the Basis for Later Theological Discussions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22240/sent36.01.017Keywords:
Peter Lombard, Book of Sentences, medieval scholasticism, God’s knowledge, foreknowledge, causality, necessity, possibilityAbstract
Since the mid-90’s the figure of Peter Lombard and his Book of Sentences has regained the importance in scholarly world and been studied from both historical-theological and historical-philosophical perspectives. But some aspects of his thinking, encapsulated in the written form, which was to become the material basis for the thirteenth- through the fifteenth-century theological projects, remained somewhat insufficiently researched. Therefore this article analyzes the select parts of the Book of Sentences with the purpose of looking at how Peter Lombard handled the issue of God’s knowledge. The article shows that for Peter Lombard God’s knowledge is God’s awareness of everything knowable. It has no causal power which belongs to the divine will. Nevertheless, this knowledge is able to function in two different modes: it can be either a purely cognitive act as awareness alone, or a double cognitive and voluntary act as awareness and simultaneous volition in the form of approbation. Hence, God’s knowledge in general is not causative, but God’s knowledge of the good must be causative because he simultaneously knows and wills what is good. The article reasonably suggests that Lombard’s logic implies the compatibility of God’s (fore)knowledge and voluntary activity, on the one hand, and the contingency of the created order and the rational creatures’ free will, on the other hand. But the details of this conception remain unrevealed as Lombard’s presentation of the problem is to be declared underdeveloped.References
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Bok, N. den. (1995). In vrijheid voorzien: Een systematisch-theologische analyse van Augustinus' teksten over voorkennis en wilsvrijheid. Bijdragen. Tijdschrift Voor Filosofie En Theologie, 56, 40-60.
Brady, I. C. (1971). Prolegomena. In Petrus Lombardus, I. C. Brady (Ed.), Magistri Petri Lombardi Parisiensis episcopi Sententiae in IV libris distinctae. (3rd revised edition (Editio tertia. Ad fidem codicum antiquiorum restituta), Vol. 1, p. 5*-148*). Grottaferrata: Editiones Collegii S. Bonaventurae ad Claras Aquas.
Clark, M. J. (2005). Peter Comestor and Peter Lombard: Brothers in Deed. Traditio, 60, 85-142. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0362152900000246
Colish, M. L. (1994). Peter Lombard (Vol. 1). Leiden, New York, & Köln: Brill.
Colish, M. L. (2006). "Discipline" and "Science" in Peter Lombard. In M. L. Colish (Ed.), Studies in Scholasticism (pp. 175-186). Aldershot: Ashgate Variorum.
Espenberger, J. N. (1901). Die Philosophie des Petrus Lombardus und ihre Stellung im zwölften Jahrhundert. Münster: Aschendorff.
Evans, G. R. (Ed.). (2002). Mediaeval Commentaries on the Sentences of Peter Lombard: Current Research (Vol. 1). Leiden, Boston, & Köln: Brill.
Finn, T. M. (2008). The Sacramental World in the Sentences of Peter Lombard. Theological Studies, 69 (3), 557-582. https://doi.org/10.1177/004056390806900304
Friedman, R. L. (2002). The Sentences Commentary, 1250-1320. General Trends, the Impact of the Religious Orders, and the Test Case of Predestination. In G. R. Evans (Ed.), Mediaeval Commentaries on the Sentences of Peter Lombard (Vol. 1, pp. 41-128). Leiden, Boston, & Köln: Brill.
Ghellinck, J. de. (1914). Le mouvement théologique du XIIe siècle : études, rechercehs et documents. Paris: Lecoffre.
Kitanov, S. (2014). Beatific Enjoyment in Medieval Scholastic Debates: The Complex Legacy of Saint Augustine and Peter Lombard. New York, NY: Lexington Books.
Larson, A. A. (2013). The Reception of Gratian's Tractatus de penitentia and the Relationship between Canon Law and Theology in the Second Half of the Twelfth Century. Journal of Religious History, 37(4), 457-473. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9809.12081
Larson, A. A. (2014). From One Master to Another: Peter Lombard's Usage of Gratian's De penitentia. In Master of Penance (pp. 315-342). Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press.
Leinsle, U. G. (1995). Einführung in die scholastische Theologie. Paderborn: Schöningh.
Leinsle, U. G. (2010). Introduction to Scholastic Theology. (M. J. Miller, Trans.). Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press.
Marenbon, J. (2007). Medieval Philosophy: An Historical and Philosophical Introduction. London: Routledge.
McMullin, E. (2007). Galileo and Peter Lombard. History Ireland, 15 (4), 22-26.
Peter Lombard. (2007). The Sentences. Book 1: The Mystery of the Trinity. (G. Silano, Trans.) (Vol. 1). Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies (PIMS).
Peter Lombard. (2014). The Complete Text of Lombard's First Book of Sentences: Book I - On the One and Triune God. (A. Bugnolo, Ed. & Trans.) (1st ed., Vol. Tome 1). Mansfield, MA: The Franciscan Archive.
Petrus Lombardus. (1882). Magistri Petri Lombardi Sententiae in quatuor libris distinctae. Primus liber sentientiarum: De Deo unitate et trinitate (Edita studio et cura PP. Collegii A S. Bonaventura, Vol. 1). Ad Claras Aquas (Quaracchi), prope Florentiam: Ex typographia Collegii S. Bonaventurae.
Petrus Lombardus. (1971). Magistri Petri Lombardi Parisiensis episcopi Sententiae in IV libris distinctae. (I. C. Brady, Ed.) (3rd revised edition (Editio tertia. Ad fidem codicum antiquiorum restituta), Vol. 1). Grottaferrata: Editiones Collegii S. Bonaventurae ad Claras Aquas.
Protois, F. (1881). Pierre Lombard, évêque de Paris, dit le maitre des sentences : Son époque, sa vie, ses écrits, son influence. Paris: Société générale de librairie catholique.
Rijk, L. M. de. (1962). Logica modernorum: A Contribution to the History of Early Terminist Logic (Vols. 1-2). Assen: Van Gorcum.
Rijk, L. M. de. (1982). The Origins of the Theory of the Properties of Terms. In N. Kretzmann, A. Kenny, J. Pinborg, & E. Stump (Eds.), The Cambridge History of Later Medieval Philosophy (pp. 161-173). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Rosemann, P. W. (2004). Peter Lombard. New York, NY: Oxford UP. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195155440.001.0001
Rosemann, P. W. (2007). The Story of a Great Medieval Book: Peter Lombard's Sentences. Peterborough, Ontario, Canada: Broadview Press.
Rosemann, P. W. (Ed.). (2009). Mediaeval Commentaries on the Sentences of Peter Lombard: Current Research (Vol. 2). Leiden, & Boston: Brill.
Rosemann, P. W. (Ed.). (2015). Mediaeval Commentaries on the Sentences of Peter Lombard: Current Research (Vol. 3). Leiden, & Boston: Brill.
Slotemaker, J. T. (2011). Peter Lombard. In H. Lagerlund (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Medieval Philosophy: Philosophy Between 500 and 1500 (pp. 950-952). Dordrech, Heidelberg, London, & New York: Springer.
Southern, R. W. (2001). Scholastic Humanism and the Unification of Europe (with notes and additions by Lesley Smith and Benedicta Ward, Vol. 2, The Heroic Age). Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.
Vos, A. (2006). The Philosophy of John Duns Scotus. Edinburgh: Edinburgh UP. https://doi.org/10.3366/edinburgh/9780748624621.001.0001
West, J. L. A. (2007). Aquinas on Peter Lombard and the Metaphysical Status of Christ's Human Nature. Gregorianum, 88(3), 557-586.
Bok, N. den. (1995). In vrijheid voorzien: Een systematisch-theologische analyse van Augustinus' teksten over voorkennis en wilsvrijheid. Bijdragen. Tijdschrift Voor Filosofie En Theologie, 56, 40-60.
Brady, I. C. (1971). Prolegomena. In Petrus Lombardus, I. C. Brady (Ed.), Magistri Petri Lombardi Parisiensis episcopi Sententiae in IV libris distinctae. (3rd revised edition (Editio tertia. Ad fidem codicum antiquiorum restituta), Vol. 1, p. 5*-148*). Grottaferrata: Editiones Collegii S. Bonaventurae ad Claras Aquas.
Clark, M. J. (2005). Peter Comestor and Peter Lombard: Brothers in Deed. Traditio, 60, 85-142. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0362152900000246
Colish, M. L. (1994). Peter Lombard (Vol. 1). Leiden, New York, & Köln: Brill.
Colish, M. L. (2006). "Discipline" and "Science" in Peter Lombard. In M. L. Colish (Ed.), Studies in Scholasticism (pp. 175-186). Aldershot: Ashgate Variorum.
Espenberger, J. N. (1901). Die Philosophie des Petrus Lombardus und ihre Stellung im zwölften Jahrhundert. Münster: Aschendorff.
Evans, G. R. (Ed.). (2002). Mediaeval Commentaries on the Sentences of Peter Lombard: Current Research (Vol. 1). Leiden, Boston, & Köln: Brill.
Finn, T. M. (2008). The Sacramental World in the Sentences of Peter Lombard. Theological Studies, 69 (3), 557-582. https://doi.org/10.1177/004056390806900304
Friedman, R. L. (2002). The Sentences Commentary, 1250-1320. General Trends, the Impact of the Religious Orders, and the Test Case of Predestination. In G. R. Evans (Ed.), Mediaeval Commentaries on the Sentences of Peter Lombard (Vol. 1, pp. 41-128). Leiden, Boston, & Köln: Brill.
Ghellinck, J. de. (1914). Le mouvement théologique du XIIe siècle : études, rechercehs et documents. Paris: Lecoffre.
Kitanov, S. (2014). Beatific Enjoyment in Medieval Scholastic Debates: The Complex Legacy of Saint Augustine and Peter Lombard. New York, NY: Lexington Books.
Larson, A. A. (2013). The Reception of Gratian's Tractatus de penitentia and the Relationship between Canon Law and Theology in the Second Half of the Twelfth Century. Journal of Religious History, 37(4), 457-473. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9809.12081
Larson, A. A. (2014). From One Master to Another: Peter Lombard's Usage of Gratian's De penitentia. In Master of Penance (pp. 315-342). Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press.
Leinsle, U. G. (1995). Einführung in die scholastische Theologie. Paderborn: Schöningh.
Leinsle, U. G. (2010). Introduction to Scholastic Theology. (M. J. Miller, Trans.). Washington, DC: Catholic University of America Press.
Marenbon, J. (2007). Medieval Philosophy: An Historical and Philosophical Introduction. London: Routledge.
McMullin, E. (2007). Galileo and Peter Lombard. History Ireland, 15 (4), 22-26.
Peter Lombard. (2007). The Sentences. Book 1: The Mystery of the Trinity. (G. Silano, Trans.) (Vol. 1). Toronto: Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies (PIMS).
Peter Lombard. (2014). The Complete Text of Lombard's First Book of Sentences: Book I - On the One and Triune God. (A. Bugnolo, Ed. & Trans.) (1st ed., Vol. Tome 1). Mansfield, MA: The Franciscan Archive.
Petrus Lombardus. (1882). Magistri Petri Lombardi Sententiae in quatuor libris distinctae. Primus liber sentientiarum: De Deo unitate et trinitate (Edita studio et cura PP. Collegii A S. Bonaventura, Vol. 1). Ad Claras Aquas (Quaracchi), prope Florentiam: Ex typographia Collegii S. Bonaventurae.
Petrus Lombardus. (1971). Magistri Petri Lombardi Parisiensis episcopi Sententiae in IV libris distinctae. (I. C. Brady, Ed.) (3rd revised edition (Editio tertia. Ad fidem codicum antiquiorum restituta), Vol. 1). Grottaferrata: Editiones Collegii S. Bonaventurae ad Claras Aquas.
Protois, F. (1881). Pierre Lombard, évêque de Paris, dit le maitre des sentences : Son époque, sa vie, ses écrits, son influence. Paris: Société générale de librairie catholique.
Rijk, L. M. de. (1962). Logica modernorum: A Contribution to the History of Early Terminist Logic (Vols. 1-2). Assen: Van Gorcum.
Rijk, L. M. de. (1982). The Origins of the Theory of the Properties of Terms. In N. Kretzmann, A. Kenny, J. Pinborg, & E. Stump (Eds.), The Cambridge History of Later Medieval Philosophy (pp. 161-173). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Rosemann, P. W. (2004). Peter Lombard. New York, NY: Oxford UP. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195155440.001.0001
Rosemann, P. W. (2007). The Story of a Great Medieval Book: Peter Lombard's Sentences. Peterborough, Ontario, Canada: Broadview Press.
Rosemann, P. W. (Ed.). (2009). Mediaeval Commentaries on the Sentences of Peter Lombard: Current Research (Vol. 2). Leiden, & Boston: Brill.
Rosemann, P. W. (Ed.). (2015). Mediaeval Commentaries on the Sentences of Peter Lombard: Current Research (Vol. 3). Leiden, & Boston: Brill.
Slotemaker, J. T. (2011). Peter Lombard. In H. Lagerlund (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Medieval Philosophy: Philosophy Between 500 and 1500 (pp. 950-952). Dordrech, Heidelberg, London, & New York: Springer.
Southern, R. W. (2001). Scholastic Humanism and the Unification of Europe (with notes and additions by Lesley Smith and Benedicta Ward, Vol. 2, The Heroic Age). Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.
Vos, A. (2006). The Philosophy of John Duns Scotus. Edinburgh: Edinburgh UP. https://doi.org/10.3366/edinburgh/9780748624621.001.0001
West, J. L. A. (2007). Aquinas on Peter Lombard and the Metaphysical Status of Christ's Human Nature. Gregorianum, 88(3), 557-586.
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2017-06-16
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Tkachenko, R. (2017). Peter Lombard on God’s Knowledge: Sententiae, Book I, Distinctions 35-38, as the Basis for Later Theological Discussions. Sententiae, 36(1), 17–31. https://doi.org/10.22240/sent36.01.017
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