Thesis ID: CBB001561857

Intelligible Species in Some Late Thirteenth-Century Theories of Cognition (2005)

unapi

Rombeiro, Michael E. (Author)


Catholic University of America
White, Kevin


Publication Date: 2005
Edition Details: Advisor: White, Kevin
Physical Details: 288 pp.
Language: English

The late thirteenth-century debate on ``the problem of intentionality'' is centered on the intelligible species, a principle posited by certain thinkers attempting to answer questions concerning the object, cause and content of our cognitive acts. The most comprehensive and coherent thirteenth-century formulation of a theory of intelligible species is that of Thomas Aquinas. Such cognitive principles that mediate between our minds and things in the world have fallen out of favor in recent times. Interestingly, we find similar resistance to these principles in the late thirteenth- century and even the critique that such principles imply a ``representationalist'' theory of knowledge. But is such a critique based on an accurate reading of Aquinas? Furthermore, how does the manner in which Aquinas' species theory is received by the most influential of his immediate successors affect the debate over species and the understanding of his theory toward the end of the thirteenth century? A detailed study of the critical period between 1275 and 1295 has not been undertaken before. This dissertation presents such a study. First, the theory of Aquinas is presented and defended against the charge of representationalism. The intelligible species functions, in the thought of Aquinas, as a formal principle of understanding and is not an object of awareness in any way in the process of cognizing things in the world. I then examine the thought of Peter John Olivi, Henry of Ghent and Godfrey of Fontaines, the major critics of the doctrine of intelligible species, and Giles of Rome, its key supporter. Olivi denies the need for any formal principle of cognition and focuses his attack on the representative function of species. Henry raises certain problems in regard to the representational adequacy of ``impressive'' intelligible species, but is most influential in his arguments against the ability of intelligible species to actualize the intellect. Neither of these thinkers accurately depicts Thomistic species in their arguments. Godfrey, on the other hand, rejects Aquinas theory because he believes that the efficient causal role attributed to the intelligible species violates the principle that nothing can reduce itself from potency to act. In order to avoid the arguments raised by Olivi against the representative function of species and under the influence of Henry and Godfrey, who focus mainly on the efficient causal function of intelligible species, Giles puts forward a theory of intelligible species that makes them efficient causes of intellection that stand in the place of intelligible objects. Such a theory leaves itself open to the criticisms leveled at representative and causal intermediaries. It is this understanding of the intelligible species that is passed on to the philosophers of the early fourteenth century and beyond.

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Description Cited in Diss. Abstr. Int. A 66/03 (2005): 1027. UMI pub. no. 3169871.


Citation URI
https://data.isiscb.org/isis/citation/CBB001561857/

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Authors & Contributors
Perler, Dominik
Marrone, Steven P.
Crawford, Tony
Anderson, Miranda
Wilson, Gordon Anthony
Wheeler, Michael
Concepts
Philosophy
Cognition
Psychology
Aristotelianism
Philosophy and religion
Philosophy of mind
Time Periods
Medieval
Renaissance
13th century
Early modern
Ancient
17th century
Places
France
Institutions
Université de Paris
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