double-truth theory

philosophy

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Key People:: Isaac Albalag

Related Topics:: Latin Averroism

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double-truth theory, in philosophy, the view that religion and philosophy, as separate sources of knowledge, might arrive at contradictory truths without detriment to either—a position attributed to Averroës and the Latin Averroists. Perhaps neither Averroës, a Muslim philosopher, nor the Christian Scholastics influenced by his philosophy actually held such a theory. Averroës did believe in freeing philosophy from religion but held that truths of reason might also be expressed symbolically in religion. Where reconciliation seemed impossible, some of his followers gave authority to reason, others to faith.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Brian Duignan.

Latin Averroism

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Latin Averroism

philosophy

Also known as: Averroism

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

Key People:: John Baconthorpe

Related Topics:: philosophy; double-truth theory

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Latin Averroism, the teachings of a number of Western Christian philosophers who, in the later Middle Ages and during the Renaissance, drew inspiration from the interpretation of Aristotle put forward by Averroës, a Muslim philosopher. The basic tenet of Latin Averroism was the assertion that reason and philosophy are superior to faith and knowledge founded on faith. The Latin Averroists, represented in Paris by John of Jandun and in Italy by Taddeo of Parma and Angelo of Arezzo, also held that the creation of matter and of spirits was necessary and eternal and that there is but one “intellective soul” for all of humanity (thereby denying individual personality and immortality). They espoused also psychological determinism, which precluded moral responsibility.