Future Contingents in the Eleventh Century

Abstract

This chapter discusses some features of eleventh-century understanding of problem of future contingents. It presents some remarks on Augustinian and Boethian sources and their role in eleventh-century discussion. The expression the problem of future is used narrowly to refer to problem raised by Aristotle in De interpretation , particularly as described by Boethius in his two commentaries on this work. Our most important witness for eleventh-century discussions about future contingents and divine foreknowledge is Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109). The chapter describes how Boethius understands problem of future contingents and what, in his view, is solution to it, and then turns to question of divine knowledge. Augustine was most important authority in early medieval theology as far as individual thinkers are concerned. Keywords: Anselm of Canterbury; Aristotle; Augustine; Boethius; eleventh-century; future contingents