28. William of Auvergne. The Trinity. Translated by Roland J. Teske, SJ, and Francis C. Wade, S.J. ISBN 0-87462-231-X 286 pp. (Translation No. 28) 1989 $20
“During the second half of the twelfth century and the beginning decades of the thirteenth, the Latin West was presented with translations of nearly all the Aristotelian works along with the works of the Arab and Jewish philosophers and theologians. William’s work as a philosopher and theologian marks an important stage in this encounter of Christian faith with Aristotle and the great philosophers of the Arab world. Despite frequent ecclesiastical condemnations of and warnings against the Aristotelian works, the impact of this discovery of a whole new intellectual view of the world was not to be stopped. William’s stance toward Aristotle is dear: When Aristotle is opposed to the truth, he must be rejected, but when he is found to be correct, he should be accepted and defended. That is, William is one of the first Christian thinkers to be confronted with the wealth of Greek and Arabian philosophical thought, and he used this thought, especially the metaphysics of Avicenna, to articulate a doctrine on God and the created world that is both philosophically profound and thoroughly Christian.” — From the Introduction by Roland J. Teske, S.J.
“An important work of William of Auvergne, his De Trinitate, is the object of this English translation preceded by a notable Introduction that is at once historical and theological. The translated version is based on the critical text edited by Switalski (Toronto, 1976), the titles of the chapters being borrowed from the old edition of Orléans. The Introduction situates the work in its historical context by noting insights drawn from contemporary theologians. It helpfully clarifies the principal theological theses as well as those relative to the notions of person, power, etc. Some of William’s philosophical themes are also examined, such as the eternity of the world, being and essence. A bibliography of seven pages and three indexes (biblical references, names, terms) completes the volume.” — From the review in Revue des Sciences Philosophiques et Théologiques.
Marquette University Press
