4 - PETER OF AUVERGNE: Commentary and Questions on Book III of Aristotle's Politics (selections)

Summary

Introduction

Peter of Auvergne was regent master in the Faculty of Arts at Paris between 1272 and 1295. The connection between his appointment as Rector in 1275 and his role in the controversy with more radical Aristotelians in the faculty is unclear. Traditionally considered to be a follower of Thomas Aquinas, at least initially, he also came under the influence of Henry of Ghent and Godfrey of Fontaines, finally becoming a master of theology by 1296. He was made Bishop of Claremont in 1302 and died in 1303.

Peter of Auvergne produced two commentaries on Aristotle's Politics. The first of these was a continuation of Thomas Aquinas's unfinished commentary on the work, which had broken off in the middle of Book III (at 12 80a6). Peter's completion of this text stands alongside his work on modist logic as his most significant contribution to the teaching of the Faculty of Arts at Paris. Although it cannot be dated with any greater precision than to the period in which Peter was regent master, his part of the commentary was probably composed some time in the 1270s. Far more certain is the influence it soon exerted as it became the standard exposition of William of Moerbeke's translation of Aristotle's text. The primary aim of this ‘literal’ (that is, phrase by phrase) commentary was to impose order and discipline on a difficult and often opaque original.