The Summa Halensis: Doctrines and Debates

Description

For generations, early Franciscan thought has been widely regarded as unoriginal: a mere attempt to systematize the longstanding intellectual tradition of Augustine in the face of the rising popularity of Aristotle. This volume brings together leading scholars in the field to undertake a major study of the major doctrines and debates of the so-called Summa Halensis **(1236-45)** , which was **collaboratively authored** by the founding members of the Franciscan school at Paris, above all, Alexander of Hales, and John of La Rochelle, in an effort to lay down the Franciscan intellectual tradition or the first time. The contributions will highlight that this tradition, far from unoriginal, laid the groundwork for later Franciscan thought, which is often regarded as formative for modern thought. Furthermore, the volume shows the role this Summa played in the development of the burgeoning field of systematic theology, which has its origins in the young university of Paris. This is a crucial and groundbreaking study for those with interests in the history of western thought and theology specifically.Open Access ([Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial NoDerivatives 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/))* * *PDF pp. 151-162 by Justus Hunter on on [Hales's motives for the Incarnation](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/a/81105/1787).p. 148 (PDF p. 158):(Ps.-)Augustine, *De anima et spiritu* (quoted in [*SH* 1V, P1, In1, Tr1, Q2, Ti2 (n. 23), Respondeo, p. 42](http://clt.brepolis.net/llta/pages/Toc.aspx?ctx=1978384); [Hunter's transl.](https://isidore.co/calibre/#panel=book_details&book_id=8900) p. 148):> For this reason God became man, that the whole human being might be beatified in him, that humanity might advance both inwardly through intellect, and excel outwardly through sense, that one might find pasture in their Creator, interior pasture in the cognition of deity, outward pasture in the flesh of the Savior.> Propterea Deus factus est homo, ut totum hominem in se beatificaret, ut sive homo ingrederetur intus per intellectum, sive egrederetur extra per sensum, in Creatore suo pascua inveniret, pascua intus in cognitione deitatis, pascua foris in carne Salvatoris.Also, Hales ties the Incarnation to the carnal union in matrimony: (union of wills in matrimony) : (spiritual/virginal union of Christ by grace/charity to the Church) :: (union in flesh, "one flesh") : (union of Christ's human and divine natures, Incarnation)So the necessity of the Incarnation seems analagous to the question of the necessity of carnal copulation to marriage.