Richard of Middleton

Richard of Mediavilla, OFM (c. 1249; † around 1308), English:. Richard of Middleto (w) n, Latin: Richardus de Mediavilla, also called "Doctor solidus " ) was a Franciscan and important theologian of the high Middle Ages.

Life

Richards life is largely in the dark and many of the details are no longer detectable. Is assumed to be sure its Norman origin. His last name he could accordingly either from France ( Meneville ) or England ( Middletown ) originate. Maybe he studied after joining the Franciscan Order only in Oxford, before he went to the University of Paris in 1276. Here he held from 1280 then lectures on the " Sentences " of Peter Lombard.

In 1283 he was mentioned as a member of a commission that dealt with the theological work of the Franciscan Peter Olivi locust.

From 1284 to 1287 he served as Magister regens working at the University of Paris. 1295 he was appointed Provincial of Francia. In this capacity he appears shortly afterwards, in the year 1296, to have personally accompanied the entrance of Louis of Toulouse in the Franciscan order.

Richard of Mediavilla died 1302-1309.

Work

When his most important writings are a complete commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard, " Super sententias Petri Lombardi " (1285-1295), as well as the " 45 Questiones Disputatae " ( 1284) and the " 3 Quodlibeta " ( 1284-1287 ).

Despite the traditionally strong alignment of the Franciscans at St. Augustine, Richard of Mediavilla has processed many influences of Aristotelian scholasticism inspired in his writings. It found, for example, to in the Quodlibeta the remarks on hypnosis and autosuggestion.