The Fundamentals of Richard’s Anthropology

Abstract

This chapter discusses the basics of Richard's anthropology and the essential concepts of the soul he uses. The human soul, its potencies, abilities, parts and motions occupy a central position in Richard's thinking, issues which are evident in most of his texts. Both Benjamin Minor and Benjamin Major contain analysis related to the operation of the soul and its epistemological and spiritual processes. Richard turns to consider the problem of the human soul even in his more theological works such as De Trinitate. In his Liber exceptionum, which was composed as preliminary reading for beginners, Richard reveals some fundamental principles of his anthropological and epistemological theories. This chapter offers a brief introduction to the notions of sense-perception (sensus), imagination (imaginatio), reason (ratio), understanding (intelligentia), and affection (affectio) in Richard's writings. Richard's emphasis on experience is seen in the christological speculation in his De Emmanuele as well.Keywords: anthropology; Benjamin Major; Benjamin Minor; De Trinitate; human soul; Liber exceptionum; Richard of St. Victor