Enjoyment at Oxford after Ockham: Philosophy, Psychology, and the Love of God

Abstract

I want to discuss today some questions about enjoyment pursued at Oxford in roughly the second quarter of the fourteenth century by Ockham and four other philosophically acute theologians: Walter Chatton, Adam Wodeham, Robert Holkot, and Thomas Bradwardine. Each of these authors has claims to importance in the history of scholasticism. The numerous footnote references to Chatton in the beautiful new Ockham edition testify to his critical role in the development of his fellow Franciscan’s ideas. Marilyn Adams gives Chatton credit for forcing the Invincible Doctor to change his position on so pivotal a matter as the object of universal concepts. Chatton’s own writings continue this dialogue. Wodeham, also a Franciscan, was a student of Ockham’s and is currently regaining the reputation he once had as a major thinker in his own right.