Siger of Brabant Quotes
Siger of Brabant was a master of arts at the University of Paris and the leading exponent of Latin Averroism in the thirteenth century. Drawing on the commentaries of Averroes, he defended a strict reading of Aristotle in which the world is eternal and the human intellect is one and the same in all individuals, theses that brought him into conflict with Thomas Aquinas and contributed to the Condemnations of 1270 and 1277. The quotes below are attributed to Siger of Brabant, organized by topic.
Siger of Brabant on Knowledge
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Attributed to Siger of Brabant:
“Philosophy is the discipline of speaking precisely about that which cannot be otherwise.”
Siger of Brabant on Mind
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Attributed to Siger of Brabant:
“There is one intellect for all human beings, in which each soul participates.”
Siger of Brabant on Time
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Attributed to Siger of Brabant:
“The eternity of the world cannot be demonstrated, but neither can its temporal beginning.”
Siger of Brabant on Truth
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Attributed to Siger of Brabant:
“We follow Aristotle so far as reason allows, and the faith where reason cannot reach.”
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Attributed to Siger of Brabant:
“What is necessary by reason cannot fail to be true within the order of nature.”