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Peter of Trabibus (fl. 1295), O.F.M., on the Physical and Mental Abilities of Children in Paradise

Journal Contribution - Journal Article

Adam and Eve had no children in paradise, but there was never- theless a lively later Medieval discussion concerning the physical and mental characteristics that such children might have had. The present article offers a critical edition of one contribution to that discussion: Peter of Trabibus’ II Sentences, d. 20, qq. 1-2 and 5. As the introduction to the edition makes clear, Peter, arguing against Thomas Aquinas, held that an authoritative text of Augustine gives us license to attribute rather wide-ranging physical and mental abilities to infants in the state of innocence, like being able to speak, walk, and use their inborn reason from birth. The hypothetical children would, however, only acquire intellectual knowledge with time, since they, just like we after the Fall, would need to use the senses to acquire that knowledge.
Journal: Syzetesis
ISSN: 1974-5044
Issue: 2
Volume: 6
Pages: 433 - 460
Publication year:2019
Accessibility:Open