Nichil melius, nichil perfectius caritate
Richard of St. Victor's Argument for the Necessity of the Trinity
By (author) Dennis Bray
The first dedicated study on the philosophical-theological argument for the Trinity in Richard of St. Victor’s crowning work, De Trinitate.
In his magnum opus De Trinitate, the twelfth-century canon Richard of St. Victor offers sustained reflection on core dogmatic claims from the Athanasian creed. At the heart of the treatise is Richard’s argument for exactly three divine persons. Starting with the necessity of a single, maximally perfect divine substance, Richard reasons along four steps: (i) God must have maximal charity, or other-love; (ii) to be perfectly good, delightful, and glorious, God’s other-love must be shared among at least two, and (iii) among at least three, divine persons; (iv) the metaphysics of divine processions and love each ensure the impossibility of four divine persons. Scripture and trustworthy church authorities already give Richard certainty in these truths of faith. Even so, as an act of ardent love, Richard contemplates the Trinity as reflected in creation. From this epistemic point of departure, he supports his conclusions from common human experience alone. Recently, philosophers of religion have employed Richard’s trinitarian reflection as a springboard for constructive work in apologetics and ramified natural theology. His unique and meticulous approach to the Trinity has garnered attention from scholars of medieval and Victorine studies, recognizing the novelty and rigour of his philosophical theology. This volume presents the first focused exploration of Richard’s central thesis in De Trinitate, combining historical context with philosophical scrutiny. It confronts the most challenging aspects of his argument, presenting Richard’s insights as not merely intriguing but also profoundly compelling. His thesis, if validated, promises to significantly enrich modern dialogues on the philosophical and theological dimensions of the Trinity.
- By (author) Dennis Bray
Other Titles in this Series
In Hebreo
The Victorine Commentaries on the Pentateuch and the Former Prophets in the Light of Its Northern-French Jewish Sources
Volume 26
Alain de Solminihac (1593-1659), prelat reformateur
De l'abbaye de Chancelade a l'eveche de Cahors
Volume 21
The Liturgy of the Canons regular of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
A Study and a Catalogue of the Manuscript Sources
Volume 16
Les prieures de Saint-Victor de Paris (XIIe-premiere moitie du XVIe siecle)
Implantation et fonctionnement d'un reseau canonial entre Senlis et Orleans
Volume 30
Un platonisme original au XIIe siecle
Metaphysique pluraliste et theologie trinitaire dans le De unitate et pluralitate creaturarum d'Achard de Saint-Victor
Volume 28
Chanoines reguliers et societes meridionales
L'abbaye de Saint-Ruf et ses prieures dans le sud-est de la France (XIe-XIVe siecle)
Volume 25
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