The Book of Causes

XVI

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On the History of the Latin Translation. pp. 204–302.

The goal is to follow the translation by Gerard Gerard of Cremona on its path through the Latin literature of the subsequent period, or, what amounts to the same thing, to present the use and utilization of our book within the Christian speculation philosophical and theological inquiry of the Middle Ages. Gerard's translation has also undergone a history in another sense: it served as the basis for translations into other languages. Several Hebrew versions of our book are based not on the original Arabic text, but on Gerard's Latin translation. It was also translated from the Latin into Armenian 204.

Alan of Lille 205. In his work On the Catholic Faith Against Heretics original Latin: "de fide catholica contra haereticos" (I, 30 and 31), two citations from our book are found 206. However, some have wrongly attempted to discover traces of a very extensive influence of our book in his Anti-Claudianus a famous 12th-century allegorical poem 211.

The Books of Aristotle on Natural Philosophy original Latin: "libri Aristotelis de naturali philosophia" prohibited by the Provincial Council of Paris in the year 1210 212. May our book be counted among them? The context of the Council's decree 213. The relevant words of the decree 214. The Council's decree neither addresses the errors of Amalric Amalric of Bène and David David of Dinant themselves, nor does it hold the books and commentaries in question responsible for them. Other testimonies provide more precise information and offer full certainty, at least regarding the origin of Amalric's teaching 216. However, the scientific writings of Aristotle were considered, according to a series of contemporary witnesses, to be a threat to the Christian faith 218. The Council forbade the reading of the scientific writings, especially Aristotle’s Physics and the Arabic commentaries on them, presumably those of Averroes 220. The reports of some contemporary historians are not at all suitable for clearing up the obscure points of the Council's decree 220. Our book was not mentioned in the conciliar proceedings 221. — The theological theses censured in the year 1240 by William of Auvergne 222. The censures of Stephen Tempier from the years 1270 and 1277 223. The censure of Robert Kilwardby from the year 1277 224.

William of Auvergne 224. He makes frequent use of our book in his treatise On the Universe original Latin: "de uniuerso" 224, as well as in the treatise On the Soul original Latin: "de anima" 227.

Robert Grosseteste German: "Robert Greathead" 228. His "Realism" the philosophical position that universals exist independently of things cannot be blamed on our book 228. However, the latter was certainly drawn into the Controversy over Universals and was invoked as an authority to cover an extreme Nominalist the position that universals are merely names party position 230.

Alexander of Hales 232. It appears that he gave our book the name Book of Causes original Latin: "liber de causis"; he also, in a sense, introduced it into theological literature 232. The utilization of the book in his Summa of All Theology original Latin: "Summa uniuersae theologiae" 233.

Bonaventure 235. How he refers to our book and its author 236. How he utilizes it in his Commentary on the Sentences of [Peter] Lombard 236.