The Thomistic Institute Thomists at War: Dante, Aquinas, and the Dominicans | Dr. George Corbett
Feb 14, 2022
Dr. George Corbett, Senior Lecturer in Theology and the Arts and specialist in Thomistic studies and Dante, explores how Dante portrays Dominic and Aquinas and why Thomists were pictured as warriors for the faith. He traces a 20th-century “Thomistic civil war,” debates over Christian philosophy, and competing readings of Dante shaped by politics and scholarly rivalry.
01:04:46
Dante's High Esteem For Aquinas
- Dante places Thomas Aquinas among the highest figures in Paradiso, portraying him as a preeminent defender and teacher of Christian truth.
- George Corbett notes Dante gives Aquinas almost as many lines as the poem's protagonists, showing high esteem within poetic theology.
Mandonet's Defense Of Thomistic Distinction
- Early 20th-century Dominicans like Pierre Mandonet defended a historical Thomism that keeps philosophy and theology distinct.
- Mandonet argued Christian philosophy risks collapsing theology into philosophy, insisting Aquinas separated order of discovery from order of demonstration.
Gilson's Christian Philosophy Linked To Politics
- Etienne Gilson promoted a notion of Christian philosophy where faith shapes philosophical form and content.
- Corbett links Gilson's project to his political desire for a unified Christian social order against secularizing republics.
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Intro
00:00 • 11sec
Dante's Portraits of Dominic and Aquinas
00:11 • 1min
Dante's View of Thomists at War
01:34 • 3min
1921: A Thomistic Civil War
04:19 • 1min
Mandonet versus Gilson: Christian Philosophy
05:37 • 6min
Order of Discovery vs Order of Demonstration
11:11 • 2min
Gilson's Christian Philosophy Thesis
13:35 • 1min
Parallel Civil War in Dante Studies
14:53 • 38sec
Berthier and Mandonet: Dante the Theologian
15:31 • 5min
Nardi and the Myth of a Thomist Dante
20:12 • 5min
Gilson's Dante: Christian Philosopher Not Thomist
25:31 • 3min
Political Stakes Shaping Interpretations
28:25 • 2min
Foster's Postwar Consensus on Dante
30:31 • 2min
Reappraising Eight Alleged Divergences
32:33 • 24sec
Natural Desire for the Beatific Vision
32:57 • 5min
Dante's Monarchy and Aquinas' Politics
37:53 • 5min
Philosophy and Theology: Autonomy Debated
42:44 • 4min
Summary: Mandonet's Reappraisal
47:07 • 2min
Q&A: Banning of De Monarchia
49:31 • 4min
Q&A: Politics, Fascism, and Dante
53:56 • 2min
Q&A: Translating Mandonet Today
56:19 • 4min
Q&A: Dante Studies' Hermeneutic Debates
01:00:02 • 4min
Closing Remarks on Dante and Thomism
01:04:24 • 21sec
Outro
01:04:45 • 1sec
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Dante and Philosophy
Étienne Gilson
Dante and Philosophy is the English rendering of Étienne Gilson's study exploring Dante's engagement with philosophical ideas and assessing whether his thought constitutes a 'Christian philosophy.
' Gilson contends that Dante's writings integrate philosophy and faith in a way that resists classification as strictly Thomistic, instead reflecting a broader Christian philosophical orientation.
The book serves as a polemical reply to Dominican interpretations like Pierre Mandonnet's and helped reshape 20th-century Dante scholarship.
It examines Dante's prose and poetic works, traces influences such as Latin Averroism, and debates Dante's possible intellectual conversions.
Gilson's work remains influential in literary and philosophical readings of Dante.
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The mystery of the supernatural
Henri de Lubac
The Mystery of the Supernatural (Le Mystère du Surnaturel) is Henri de Lubac's influential theological work that reexamines the relationship between nature and grace, arguing that human nature is oriented toward a supernatural end.
De Lubac challenges neo-Scholastic distinctions that strictly separate natural ends from the beatific destiny, suggesting that the desire for God is integral to human nature yet fulfilled only by God's gratuitous gift.
His thesis provoked extensive debate in mid-20th-century Catholic theology and influenced the ressourcement movement leading up to Vatican II. The book critiques certain readings of Aquinas that isolate human nature from its supernatural destiny and has been central to discussions about natural desire for the beatific vision.
It remains a landmark in modern Catholic theology.
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Dante in Philosophy
Étienne Gilson
Dante in Philosophy is the English presentation of Étienne Gilson's work examining Dante's engagement with philosophical issues and asserting Dante's status as a Christian philosopher rather than a strict Thomist.
George Corbett notes its widespread use in anglophone Dante studies and critiques it as a polemical refutation of Pierre Mandonnet.
The book traces Dante's intellectual influences, including Latin Averroism and medieval scholastic debates, and argues for a synthesis in Dante that integrates philosophical autonomy and Christian faith.
Its polemical tone and prominence have shaped much 20th-century scholarship on Dante, often overshadowing Dominican interpretations.
The book remains influential and controversial among Dante scholars.
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La Philosophie de Saint Bonaventure
Etienne Gilson
La Philosophie de Saint Bonaventure is Etienne Gilson's scholarly examination of Bonaventure's thought, situating the Franciscan theologian within the medieval philosophical context and highlighting his Augustinian-Platonic tendencies.
Gilson argues that Bonaventure represents a distinct Christian philosophical approach that differs from Thomistic Aristotelianism.
The book contributed to debates about the nature of 'Christian philosophy' and sparked controversy among Thomist scholars like Pierre Mandonet.
Gilson's work shaped 20th-century understandings of Franciscan intellectual traditions and their relation to broader medieval thought.
It remains influential in studies of Bonaventure and medieval theology.
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Dante the Philosopher
Etienne Gilson
Dante the Philosopher (originally Dante et la Philosophie) is Etienne Gilson's influential study presenting Dante as a thinker whose philosophy is essentially Christian in form and content.
Gilson argues that Dante's works synthesize philosophical and theological elements in a way that resists classification as strictly Thomistic, instead reflecting broader Christian philosophical commitments.
The book engages prior Dominican readings of Dante and challenges notions of Dante's alleged Thomism, shaping much 20th-century Dante scholarship.
Gilson's polemical approach positioned the work as a reply to Pierre Mandonet and influenced later interpreters like Bruno Nardi and K. W. Foster.
It remains a pivotal text in debates about Dante's intellectual affiliations.
#7878
• Mentioned in 7 episodes
De Monarchia
Dante Alighieri
Aurelia Henry
#18081
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
De Veritate
prout distinguitur a revelatione, a verisimili, a possibili, et a falso (On Truth, as It Is Distinguished from Revelation, the Probable, the Possible, and the False)
Edward Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Cherbury
De Veritate, published in 1624, is a seminal work by Edward Herbert that explores the nature of truth and its distinction from other concepts like revelation and probability.
It outlines a system of natural religion based on innate common notions, which became foundational for English Deism.
The work is notable for its metaphysical approach and its influence on later philosophical thought.
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Dante the Theologian
Denys Turner
Denys Turner's "Dante the Theologian" re-examines Dante Alighieri's Commedia, emphasizing its theological depth often overlooked in favor of its poetic aspects.
Turner argues that Dante's work offers valuable resources for contemporary theologians, whether studying 14th-century Christian thought or grappling with modern religious issues.
The book meticulously guides readers through the Commedia's structure and content, highlighting its quasi-sacramental nature as a theological treatise expressed through poetry.
Turner reveals Dante's understanding of the interconnectedness of poetry and theology, demonstrating how each enhances the other in conveying profound truths.
The book is a significant contribution to Dante scholarship and theological studies.
#584
• Mentioned in 57 episodes
Summa Theologiae
St. Thomas Aquinas
St.
Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologiae is a monumental work of systematic theology, aiming to present a comprehensive overview of Christian doctrine.
It's structured around questions and articles, exploring various aspects of faith and reason.
The Summa covers topics such as God, creation, the human person, salvation, and the sacraments.
It's considered a cornerstone of Catholic theology and has profoundly influenced philosophical and theological discourse for centuries.
Its enduring relevance lies in its systematic approach and integration of faith and reason.
#3347
• Mentioned in 15 episodes
Summa Contra Gentiles
St. Thomas Aquinas
St.
Thomas Aquinas's Summa Contra Gentiles is a comprehensive work aiming to refute errors of non-Christians using reason and revelation.
It systematically addresses philosophical and theological issues, demonstrating the compatibility of faith and reason.
The work is divided into four parts, covering God, creation, the human person, and Christ.
It's a cornerstone of Thomistic thought, influencing generations of theologians and philosophers.
Its impact on Christian apologetics and intellectual history is undeniable.
The Summa Contra Gentiles remains a significant resource for understanding Aquinas's approach to philosophical and theological inquiry.
This lecture was given on November 15, 2021 at Oxford University. For more information on upcoming events, please visit our website at www.thomisticinstitute.org. About the speaker: Dr. George Corbett is a Senior Lecturer in Theology and the Arts at the University of St Andrews. Previously, he held positions as Junior Research Fellow in Philosophy, Trinity College, and affiliated lecturer in Italian, University of Cambridge, where he also taught English literature and theology. He received his BA (double first), MPhil (distinction), and PhD (AHRC-funded) from the University of Cambridge. He has also studied in Pisa (as an Erasmus-Socrates exchange scholar at La Scuola Normale Superiore), Rome (Institutum Pontificium Alterioris Latinitatis), and Montella (Vivarium Novum). Dr. Corbett directs CEPHAS (a Thomistic Centre for Philosophy and Scholastic Theology), TheoArtistry (a project linking up theologians and artists), and is leading on a new collaborative MLitt in Sacred Music. 892718