Western Michigan University ScholarWorks at WMU Master's Theses Graduate College 8-1990 Robert Grosseteste's De Ubero Arbitrio Andrew L. Pearson Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses Part of the History of Religion Commons, Medieval History Commons, and the Philosophy Commons Recommended Citation Pearson, Andrew L., "Robert Grosseteste's De Ubero Arbitrio" (1990). Master's Theses. 1087. https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/1087 This Masters Thesis-Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate College at ScholarWorks at WMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at WMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ROBERT GROSSETESTE'S DE UBERO ARBITRIO by Andrew L. Pearson A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of The Graduate College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts The Medieval Institute Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, Michigan August 1990 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ROBERT GROSSETESTE’S DE UBERO ARBITRIO Andrew L. Pearson, M.A. Western Michigan University, 1990 De Libero Arbitrio of Robert Grosseteste (ca. 1170-1253) represents his primary exploration of that aspect of man's relationship to nature, to other human beings, and to God, known as free choice. This thesis explores the relationship of his treatise De Libero Arbitrio to his treatisesDe Veritate , De Veritate Propositions, and De Scientia Dei. It also offers an outline and summary ofDe Libero Arbitrio and presents an English translation of Ludwig Baur's edition of the first recension of this treatise with updated notes. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my gratitude to all those who helped me to see this program to its end: to Dr. Griindler, for his guidance in the program and for being on my thesis committee; to Dr. Falk, for introducing me to this treatise and for his help with the text; to Dr. Johnson, for his tireless efforts in directing me through this translation; to Dr. Engle, for fueling my love for Latin; to Dr. Seiler, for inspiring me with confidence to tackle research projects beyond the two-week term paper; and to each professor under whose tutelage I have had the pleasure to study, specifically, Dr. Syndergaard, Dr. Elder, Dr. Westphal, Dr. Beech, Dr. Gardiner, Mrs. Giedeman, and Mr. Schmitt. I would also like to thank Bob Wojtowicz, Uli Strasser, Dan Lacorte, Pongracz Sennyey, Chris and Sarah Beiting, Betty and Adrian Vanderwielen, Karl Boehler, Jocelyn Bailey, Gaylen Owens, Mark Porath, Millie Spurbeck, Bill Wanbaugh, Connie Nelson, Candy Woodruff, Juleen Eichinger, Ardis Syndergaard, Connie Klemm, and all those whose names escape me at the moment. Most of all, I would like to thank my family: Mom, Dad, Ian, Linnea, John, Sarah, and Susan. Deo gratias. Amen. Andrew L. Pearson u•« Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. INFORMATION TO USERS The most advanced technology has been used to photograph and reproduce this manuscript from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type, of computer printer. 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Copyright by Andrew L. Pearson 1990 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.................................................................................... ii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS................................................................................. iv CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION................................................................................... 1 Robert Grosseteste: His Life........................................................... 1 De Libero Arbitrio............................................................................ 3 Summary ofDe Libero Arbitrio............................................... 13 II. TRANSLATION OF DE UBERO ARBITRIO...................................... 26 III. NOTES...................................................................................................... 127 BIBLIOGRAPHY.......................................................................................................142 iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AC Anselm, Opera Omnia. BGPM Beitrdge zur Geschichte der Phibsophie [und Theologie] des Mittelalters (Munster i. W.). B. Op. Bernard, Opera Omnia. CCL Corpus Christianorum, Series Latina. CSEL Corpus Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Latinorum (Vienna-Leipzig). P.Gr. Migne, Patrologia Graeca (Paris). P. L. Migne, Patrologia Latina (Paris). P . S. Peter Lombard, Sententiae. iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Robert Grosseteste: His Life The writings of Robert Grosseteste (ca. 1170-1253), * dealing as they do with subjects as diverse as calendars, Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics,2 and the nature of light, attest to the wide range of his interests as well as to the power of his intellect. It is not surprising, therefore, that he should also turn his attention to the existence and nature of free choice, a subject that almost inevitably appears in any philosophical or theological analysis of human nature.De Libero Arbitrio represents Grosseteste's primary exploration of this aspect of man's relationship to nature, to other human beings, and to God. Grosseteste wrote this treatise before he received his appointment as the Bishop of Lincoln in 1235. Although he attained high stature as bishop, relatively little is known about his life until the twenty years preceding this appointment, when he received his first benefice. In the absence of biographical sources, much if not all of Grosseteste's early life is subject to scholarly speculation. Scholars are not in agreement over his birthdate and actual birthplace. As to his birthdate, a comparison of modern scholarship yields an approximate date of1 1 7 0 .3 Tradition supposes his birthplace to be in the County of Suffolk, but the actual birthplace isu n k n o w n .^ In regard to his family and their status in society, scholars agree with the chronicler Matthew Paris, as well as Richard Earl of Clare and Robert Grosseteste nimself, that he was of humble b ir th . 5 Little is known about his immediate family except that his later correspondence shows that he had a sister, Juetta (or Ivetta), "a nun, probably at 1 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Godstow, to whom one of his letters is addressed."** His parents are thought to have died while he was still a child. After their deaths he may have gone to Lincoln where a wealthy citizen, Adam of Wigford, received him. Helped by this act of benevolence, Grosseteste began his early education at Lincoln Cathedral.? There is no evidence of where he continued his education or whether he attended Cambridge or Oxford. 8 That he had acquired the title Magister is attested by his signature on a charter of Hugh, Bishop of Lincoln, written sometime between 1189 and 1192.9 He can also be located at Lincoln a few years later by means of a testimonial written for him by Gerald of Wales sometime during the years of 1194- 1195.10 He then