Saint Bonaventure’s Views on the Soul’s Nature and Condition

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Table of Contents

Bonaventure on the Soul
Bonaventure on the Agent and Possible Intellect
Conclusion
References

Saint Bonaventure was an Italian theologian who was wise and intelligent between the more well-known identity and distinction theories of the thirteenth century. Despite the fact that Bonaventure reflected on philosophical concepts, such as mind, soul, matter, and form his works are closely connected with theology. This paper will examine Bonaventure’s attitude to such issues as the nature of the soul and the enlightenment of the intellect.

Bonaventure on the Soul

Bonaventure’s explanation of the soul and its abilities attempts to find a midway ground. According to Bonaventure, the soul’s energies are neither entirely distinct from the soul nor quite the same as it (Löwe, 2021). The saint from the 13th century believed that memory, intelligence, and will are three of humanity’s finest faculties (Löwe, 2021). He thought that the Holy Trinity is naturally reflected in these three forces. Bonaventure contends that the soul’s abilities are necessary characteristics of the soul; they depend on the soul and are in the same category as the soul, but they only fit into this category “by reduction” (Löwe, 2021, p. 10). Generally, a midway ground between the more well-known identification and distinctiveness views is sought in this argument.

Bonaventure’s argument is on the condition that the soul’s work is ill-defined connections in academic disciplines and Trinitarian theology. Bonaventure argues that metaphysics gives rise to the first concept, the Father and that mathematics translates to the three trinities. Bonaventure expresses love in playing with figures, particularly the traditionally sacred numbers of three and seven (Löwe, 2021). However, he lacks transparency regarding the differences between seeing God through his vestiges and in his relics.

Bonaventure on the Agent and Possible Intellect

Bonaventure, like his contemporaries, used Aristotelian elements in Augustinian noetics, including the concept of agent and possible intellect. The terms “agent” intellect and “possible” intellect were first mentioned in Aristotle’s “On the Soul” (Pereira, 2020, p. 309). In the Middle Ages, the nature of agent intellect was the subject of intense discussion (Pereira, 2020). The theologists believed that the way Aristotle described the soul might help comprehend eternal life’s essence.

In general terms, the possible intellect is the ability of the mind to intellectually “become” or know all things. The agent intellect is the activity of the intellect by which the potentially intelligible becomes actually intelligible and intellectually knowable (Pereira, 2020). The problem with the Aristotelian definition of these terms was that there was a wide margin for interpretation and debate.

Bonaventure describes the power of the human soul based on the differences between agent intellects and possible intellect, perceiving them as parts of a single spiritual power. He understands agent intellect as the difference between the human soul and is convinced that divine insight is necessary to achieve actual knowledge since abstraction is not enough (Sutanto, 2021). An agent intellect also can be called a spiritual substance, different from the soul, which has a higher ability to influence the soul in order to convey knowledge to it. Bonaventure believed that God is an agent intellect, although not in the literal sense. In his opinion, all knowledge, beauty, and wisdom are of divine origin, and the first thing the intellect knows is God. According to Bonaventure, a fall can severely damage the mind (Sutanto, 2021). Thus, it cannot be said that Bonaventure was a radical critic of the dual concept of intelligence.

Conclusion

In summary, in between the more well-known identity and distinction theories of the thirteenth century, Saint Bonaventure was an Italian theologian who was clever and intellectual. In Bonaventure’s opinion, at least three different routes one can take in their quest for God. By highlighting the capacities that the human spirit is born with, Bonaventure moves the reader one step closer to mystic reflection. The saint from the 13th century held that the best qualities of humans are memory, intelligence, and will. He believed these three powers are a natural reflection of the Holy Trinity. In general, Bonaventure seeks to elucidate the character and condition of the soul.

References

Löwe, C. L. (2021). Bonaventure on the soul and its powers. Vivarium, 59(1-2), 10-32. Web.

Pereira, M. J. (2020). Bonaventure. Encyclopedia of Medieval Philosophy: Philosophy between 500 and 1500, 308-315. Web.

Sutanto, N. G. (2021). Questioning Bonaventure’s Augustinianism: On the noetic effects of sin. New Blackfriars, 102(1099), 401-417. Web.

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Saint Bonaventure’s Views on the Soul’s Nature and Condition

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