Quodlibetal disputes were formal university debates, held twice a year during Advent and Lent, in which questions on any topic could be brought forward by those in attendance; supporting and opposing arguments were discussed and then ultimately resolved by the presiding master. Thomas Aquinas presided over twelve quodlibetal disputes, which cover a range of topics, both speculative and practical; the Quodlibets here are considerably edited reports of these debates. Quodlibets VII–XI are from Aquinas’s first teaching period in Paris (1256–1259), and Quodlibets I–VI, XII are from his second teaching period in Paris (1269–1272).
About the Author
An intellectual giant of the 13th century, Thomas Aquinas is best known for the clarity of thought in his philosophical and theological writings. His primary occupation at the University of Paris was as a theologian and a commentator on Sacred Scripture, and his philosophical work was always at the service of his Scriptural meditations. The writings of Thomas Aquinas remain widely influential to this day. “In his thinking, the demands of reason and the power of faith found the most elevated synthesis ever attained by human thought.” (John Paul II, Fides et Ratio)
