Lying and perjury in medieval practical thought
This is a study of medieval thought about dilemmas involving lying, justified concealment and broken promises. It argues that a distinctive way of thinking about the ethics of lying and perjury, which reasoned through cases of conscience and practical situations, first appeared in an academic context in late twelfth century scholasticism, most notably in the Summa de Sacramentis et Animae Consiliis of Peter the Chanter. It was a tradition which continued in pastoral writings of the thirteenth century, the practical moral questions addressed by theologians in universities in the second half of the thirteenth century, and in the Summae de Casibus Conscientiae of the late Middle Ages. These various genres all participated in a casuistical thought about lying and deception which centred on deciding the best course of action in non-ideal situations and offered responses that acknowledged the need to adjust one's actions to a unique set of circumstances. In the light of this discovery, the thesis investigates the origins of the casuistical concepts of equivocation and mental reservation. These teachings, which attracted satire in the Early Modern period, first appeared in late twelfth-century cases of conscience.
Corran, E. M.
Lying and perjury in medieval practical thought. This is a study of medieval thought about dilemmas involving lying, justified concealment and broken promises. It argues that a distinctive way of thinking about the ethics of lying and perjury, which reasoned through cases of conscience and practical situations, first appeared in an academic context in late twelfth century scholasticism, most notably in the Summa de Sacramentis et Animae Consiliis of Peter the Chanter. It was a tradition which continued in pastoral writings of the thirteenth century, the practical moral questions addressed by theologians in universities in the second half of the thirteenth century, and in the Summae de Casibus Conscientiae of the late Middle Ages. These various genres all participated in a casuistical thought about lying and deception which centred on deciding the best course of action in non-ideal situations and offered responses that acknowledged the need to adjust one's actions to a unique set of circumstances. In the light of this discovery, the thesis investigates the origins of the casuistical concepts of equivocation and mental reservation. These teachings, which attracted satire in the Early Modern period, first appeared in late twelfth-century cases of conscience.
medieval practical_thought study medieval think dilemmas involve lie justified concealment broken promise argues distinctive way_think ethic lie reason case conscience practical situation first appear academic_context late twelfth_century scholasticism notably peter tradition continue pastoral writing practical moral question_address theologian university second_half various genre participate thought lie deception centre decide best course action non ideal situation offer response acknowledge need adjust action unique set circumstance light discovery investigate origin concept mental reservation teaching attract satire early_modern_period first appear late twelfth_century case conscience