Title: St. Albert the Great's Theory of the Beatific Vision
Description: My book explores theories of the beatific vision, centering on Albert's thought. But in doing so, it examines the views of his student, Aquinas, Bonaventure, and others. In 1241 the Catholic church issued a set of condemnations, proclaiming certain theories or interpretations of doctrine heretical. Among these heretical views was the proposition that no created intellect can see the divine essence (God) directly. Around the beginning of the 13th century theologians began to consider in depth the infinite nature of the divine essence. Confronted with this realization, they had a great deal of trouble reconciling how a limited, created intellect could ever directly know an infinite God. As a result, they denied that finite intellects can ever know God directly. So the problem I explore depends upon the historical, epistemological, metaphysical and theological issues with which Albert and his peers struggled. My book explores all of these issues, and so, although the theory of the beatific vision is its focal point, it is far more than a simple discussion of one issue. It explores and contrasts the epistemologies and metaphysics of the three theologians mentioned above. It traces the biblical origins and the theological tradition concerning the beatific vision. It provides translations of previously untranslated passages of Albert's work, and new translations of several key texts from Aquinas and Bonaventure. It is structured around "Key Texts," important passages crucial to understanding the issues involved. And it examines the scholastic method in depth at the outset. Any serious student of medieval thought would benefit greatly from reading this work carefully.
Subjects: Medieval philosophy, theology, beatific vision, epistemology, metaphysics, neo-platonism, scholasticism, Albertus magnus, saint, bishop of ratisbone, 1193-1280, History of doctrines, Doctrine of the beatific vision, Contributions in doctrine of the beatific vision
People: Albert the Great, Aquinas, Bonaventure
Time periods: 13th century