Insegnare il vero in età medievale. Le riflessioni teologiche di Goffredo di Fontaines

In his Quodlibetal Questions, the master of Theology Godfrey of Fontaines repeatedly addresses the problem of teaching the truth. In particular, he inquires about the professional behaviour a theologian ought to assume when his docere veritatem contradicts ecclesiastic and academic authorities. In the frame of the dispute between secular clergy and new Mendicant Orders, and of the Condemnation of 1277, Godfrey insists on the responsibility of the master lecturing before the community of the faithful. Because of the salvation of the believers, he ought to teach the truth regardless of every fear and every scandal that may arise. At the same time, keeping in mind the need of the Christian community, he is obliged to communicate this truth on appropriate occasions. Godfrey’s texts not only are a significant examples of teaching the truth in the Medieval World of 13th century, but they also reveal his main purpose, i.e. to safeguard the intellectual freedom of the theologian, thus claiming the unmatched prestige of his profession