The importance and legacy of Albertus Magnus in the controversy over the unity of the intellect.

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance and the legacy of the Dominican Albertus Magnus in the controversy with the defenders of the possible unity of the intellect of all mankind. To this end, a brief presentation of his treatise De unitate intellectus, written in 1263, will be given. After a historical contextualization that presents the Bishop of Regensburg’s position in relation to Averroism, it will be shown how he inspired one of his most brilliant students, Thomas Aquinas, with regard to this topic. Moreover, it is pointed out that, for the Doctor Universalis, Averroes’ contribution proved indispensable: the latter was able to indicate the correct way in which the intellect should be considered “immaterial”, although his conclusion that there was a possible single intellect for all mankind was unacceptable.

Recebido: 30/12/2019
Aceito: 30/12/2019