The Franciscan provincial superior Richard of Middleton exerted significant influence on the academic climate of late thirteenth-century Paris through his dual roles as a university lecturer and a theological advisor. Operating within the Kingdom of France, his work synthesized the complex and often conflicting philosophical currents of his era, leaving behind a body of scholarly writing that remains central to understanding medieval scholasticism.
Academic Career and University Influence
Richard served as a regent master at the Franciscan studium in Paris from 1284 until 1287, having previously participated in the commission tasked with examining Peter Olivi in 1283. His academic standing facilitated his appointment as a tutor to Louis of Toulouse, who was the son of Charles II of Anjou. His administrative reach extended significantly on 20 September 1295 when he was elected as the Franciscan minister provincial of France while in the city of Metz.
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His intellectual output included major commentaries on the Sentences of Peter Lombard, produced between 1285 and 1295, along with three sets of quodlibetal disputations and approximately 45 disputed questions. His reasoning was shaped by predecessors including Bonaventure, Henry of Ghent, and Thomas Aquinas. While he adhered to Franciscan thought, he notably incorporated Aristotelian principles into his arguments, navigating the intellectual tensions following the condemnations of 1270 and 1277 at the University of Paris.
Notable Works and Historical Context
His primary texts include Super quatuor libros Sententiarum, the Quodlibeta, and De gradu formarum. These works provided a platform for him to engage in wider academic debates of his time, such as his 1285 contribution regarding the legality of annuities as financial contracts. Despite historical uncertainty regarding whether his origins were in Normandy or England, his contributions to Catholic theology and philosophy remain firmly rooted in the French scholastic tradition of the Middle Ages.
Fast facts
- Born: 1249
- Died: 1302
- Location of death: Reims
- Occupation: Catholic priest, monk, theologian, philosopher
- Primary affiliation: University of Paris
- Notable works: Super quatuor libros Sententiarum, Quodlibeta, De gradu formarum
Questions readers ask
What subjects did Richard of Middleton focus on?
He focused on theology and scholastic philosophy, specifically examining the works of Peter Lombard and engaging in quodlibetal disputations.
Where did Richard of Middleton hold academic positions?
He held positions at the University of Paris, serving as a regent master at the Franciscan studium.
Achievements
- Notable work: Quodlibeta
- Notable work: Super quatuor libros Sententiarum
- Notable work: De gradu formarum
- Held posts at University of Paris
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