Book of Causes

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

It is necessary to accompany Gerard's translation on its path through the Latin literature of the subsequent period, or, which is the same thing, to present the use and application of our book in the Christian speculation of the Middle Ages. — Gerard's translation has also passed through a history in another sense. It has itself served as a model for translations into other languages. Several Hebrew versions of our book are based not on the Arabic text, but on Gerard's translation. The latter has also been translated into Armenian 204.

Alanus of Lille 205. In his work On the Catholic Faith Against Heretics original: "de fide catholica contra haereticos" (I, 30 and 31), there are two citations from our book 206. However, it was wrong to attempt to discover traces of a very far-reaching influence by our book in his Anti-Claudianus 211.

The books of Aristotle on natural philosophy original: "libri Aristotelis de naturali philosophia" prohibited by the Parisian Provincial Council of the year 1210 212. May our book be counted among them? The context of the conciliar decree 213. The words of the same that are to be considered here 214. The decree of the council neither addresses the errors of Amalric and David themselves, nor does it hold the questionable books original: "libri" and commentaries original: "commenta" responsible for them. Other testimonies provide more precise clarification and grant full certainty, at least regarding the origin of Amalric's doctrine 216. However, the scientific writings of Aristotle were considered, according to a series of contemporary witnesses, to be threatening to the Christian faith 218. The council prohibits the reading of the scientific writings, in particular the Physics of Aristotle and Arabic commentaries on them, presumably those of Averroes 220. The reports of some contemporary historians are by no means suitable for clarifying the dark points of the conciliar decree 220. Our book was not discussed in the conciliar proceedings 221. — The theological theses censored 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 the writing On the Universe original: "de uniuerso" 224, as well as in the writing On the Soul original: "de anima" 227.

Robert Greathead 228. His "realism" cannot be blamed on our book 228. However, the latter was indeed drawn into the dispute over universals and invoked as an authority to support an extremely nominalist party position 230.

Alexander of Hales 232. It seems he gave our book the name Book of Causes original: "liber de causis"; he also introduced it, to a certain extent, into theological literature 232. The use of the book in his Sum of Universal Theology original: "Summa uniuersae theologiae" 233.

Bonaventure 235. How he designates our book, or the author of the same 236. How he makes use of it in his commentaries on the Sentences of the Lombard note: referring to Peter Lombard 236.