William la Mare English Franciscan theologian Country: Great Britain

1. Early Life and Education
2. Academic Accomplishments
3. The Correctorium fratris Thomae
4. Theology and Practical Science
5. Biblical Scholarship and Legacy

Early Life and Education

Little is known about the early life of William de la Mare. By the 1260s, he was a member of the Franciscan community in Lincoln and had written commentaries on the works of Bonaventure. Influenced by contemporaries like Johannes Pecham, Walter of Bruges, Roger Bacon, and Petrus de Tarantaisia, de la Mare's early writings hinted at a critique of Thomas Aquinas but did not explicitly attack him or Aristotle.

Academic Accomplishments

In 1275, de la Mare received his doctorate in theology from the University of Paris and became a university professor. Inspired by Bonaventure, he composed "Commentarium super libros sententiarum" and "Disputationes de quolibet," exploring epistemology and the human desire to connect with God. He believed that the soul's inner sanctity provided the foundation for human psychology, allowing for the comprehension of eternal ideas.

The Correctorium fratris Thomae

In the late 1270s, de la Mare returned to England and wrote his famous work, "Correctorium fratris Thomae" (1277/78). This text became a manifesto for the Franciscan neo-Augustinian school and criticized the teachings of Thomas Aquinas. The Dominican followers of Aquinas responded with counter-arguments in works known as "Correctoria corruptorii."

Theology and Practical Science

De la Mare viewed theology as a guide for right action and a "practical science" based on divine authority rather than Aristotelian science. In 1283, the Franciscan chapter recognized de la Mare's work as canonical and forbade the reading of Aquinas's works by the brothers, who could only access his philosophy through the "Correctorium."

Biblical Scholarship and Legacy

Influenced by Bacon, de la Mare contributed to the correction of the Bible translation and compiled a glossary of Hebrew and Greek terms found in the text. This work is considered one of the finest medieval glossaries. While de la Mare's critique of Aquinas and Aristotle was largely forgotten, his biblical scholarship had a lasting influence, inspiring later Franciscans like John Duns Scotus and Peter John Olivi.