On the Intellect. A Reading of John Buridan’s De anima, III, qq. 3-6

Authors

  • Chiara Beneduce Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17421/2498-9746-05-06

Keywords:

John Buridan, De anima, soul, intellect, faith, reason

Abstract

In his commentary on Aristotle’s De anima, III, qq. 3-6, John Buridan (d. 1361 ca.) presents his interpretive view on the intellective soul. His text has been a source of lively scholarly debate. This article elaborates a reading of Buridan’s qq. 3-6 and situates it in light of the work of Olaf Pluta and Jack Zupko. Contrary to Pluta and in agreement with Zupko, it maintains that Buridan does not embrace a materialistic conception of the soul but it further explores why Buridan devotes so much space to analysing Alexander of Aphrodisias’s position. It moreover aims to move beyond Zupko to offer a more straightforward reading according to which Buridan genuinely supports the position of the faith. The article’s interpretation of Buridan’s De anima, III, qq. 3-6 ultimately allows for a broader reflection on the relationship between reason and faith in Buridan’s thought.

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Published

2021-05-04

Issue

Section

Human nature, soul and body. Convergence of perspectives