MAREK GENSLER, On the Doctrine of Ramon Llull

SUMMARY

The dialogue On the doctrine of Ramon Llull, composed in Lyons in 1423, is a good illustration of John Gerson’s views on what he called intellectual “brazenness” of some realist masters (although he stresses that his critique is not aimed at Thomas Aquinas), who think that they are able to prove the truths of the faith. Gerson primarily directs his arguments against the attempts to extend the philosophical understanding of necessity on the relations between creatures and God. Accepting a distinction between internal and external necessity makes it possible, in his opinion, to avoid an error of entangling God in any relations with His creatures other than his absolute creative freedom. In this way, Gerson introduces a strong demarcation between the realms of faith and secular knowledge.