Theology and the Cartesian Doctrine of Freedom

Étienne Gilson (1884–1978) was the foremost medievalist of the twentieth century. He taught at several French universities and was a member of the Academie Française. He organized and directed the Pontifical Institute for Medieval Studies in Toronto. A philosopher and historian of ideas, Gilson is perhaps best remembered for his exploration of the concept of Christian philosophy

• Table of Contents Translator’s Preface Introduction Part I Divine Freedom Chapter one Descartes and Education at La Flèche. The Texts Chapter two Descartes’s Adversaries Chapter three Final Causes and the Idea of Infinity Chapter four The Sources: Duns Scotus and Mersenne Chapter five The Cartesian Account of Divine Freedom and Oratorian Theology Part II Human Freedom Chapter one Error Chapter two The Relations of Understanding and Will. Judgment Chapter three The Critique of Freedom of Indifference. Its Sources Chapter four Human Freedom in the Principia Philosophiae Chapter five Freedom of Indifference from De Libertate to Augustinus Chapter six Descartes and Nascent Jansenism Chapter seven Descartes and Dogmata Theologica of Fr. Petau Conclusion Bibliography Index of Names