Godfrey Of Fontaines And The Succession Theory Of Forms At Paris In The Early Fourteenth Century

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The position and influence of Godfrey of Fontaines on the topic of intension and remission of forms have long proved difficult to ascertain. Medieval sources are nearly unanimous in identifying Godfrey as a prominent source for unusual but very influential account of intension and remission known as 'succession of forms'. Modern scholars have repeatedly concluded that Godfrey's writings contain no express endorsement of this theory. Indeed, some have even concluded that Godfrey mentions the theory at all, he rejects it. This disparity between medieval and modern readings of Godfrey is usually traced to a misunderstanding of, or extrapolation from, his admittedly difficult texts on the topic by his contemporaries, especially Duns Scotus. A full examination of medieval testimony on Godfrey's views, particularly among the early fourteenth-century discussions on intension and remission at Paris, shows not only that Godfrey held a traditional version of succession theory but where he held it. Keywords: Duns Scotus; Godfrey of Fontaines; intension; medieval sources; Paris; remission; succession theory of forms