Durandus of Saint-Pourçain

Durandus of Saint-Pourçain, also known as Durand of Saint-Pourçain (c. 1275 – 13 September 1332 / 10 September 1334), was a French Dominican, philosopher and theologian.

He was born at Saint-Pourçain, Auvergne, and died in Meaux in 1332. Little is known of Durandus of Saint-Pourçain prior to 1307 but some small facts. His preliminary work was prepared in some Dominican studium. He entered the Dominican Order at Clermont, and studied at the University of Paris to which he obtained his doctoral degree in 1313. Clement V called him to as Master of the Sacred Palace.

He lectured on the "Sentences" of Peter Lombard. He was at this time submitting ideas that were not exactly parallel to those of Thomas Aquinas. This was the production of the first extensive commentary on the "Sentences", published in 1303-8 (unedited). After review of the first commentary, it seemed very improbable that Durandus could have been a follower of Aquinas prior to 1307.

Since Thomas Aquinas was held at a higher standing than any other doctor within the Dominican order, they were to defend and uphold his ideas predominately. This caused Durand to be criticized from one of the leading Dominican followers of Aquinas, Hervaeus Natalis. This was a doctoral quarrel and an illustration of the fourteenth -century doctoral tensions. It was at this time that Durandus of Saint-Pourçain set out to write his second commentary on the "Sentences", which he adhered more closely to Aquinas's way.

This second version of the commentary was written around 1310-1312 (unedited). This, unfortunately, did much help respond to the criticisms that he had received previously and instead brought on more criticism and grief. Additionally, his scholars efforts and the receipt of is doctrine in theology, from the University of Paris in 1312, did not make much of a difference either, unfortunately, leading to the Dominican order initiating two formal investigations. The first investigation was in 1212-1214 and the other in 1316/17.

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