Étienne Tempier facts for kids

Étienne Tempier was an important French bishop who lived in the 1200s. He was the head of the University of Paris (also known as the Sorbonne) for several years. Later, he became the bishop of Paris.

Tempier is most famous for making a list of 219 ideas that he believed were wrong or dangerous. These ideas were being discussed by teachers and students at the University of Paris. His actions caused a big stir in the world of learning at the time.

Étienne Tempier's Life Story

Étienne Tempier was born in a city called Orléans in France. He went to study in Paris, which was a major center for learning. There, he became a master of theology, which is the study of religious beliefs. He also became a canon at the famous Notre Dame Cathedral.

From about 1263 to 1268, Tempier was the Chancellor of Notre Dame. This important job also meant he was in charge of the University of Paris. After this, he became the bishop of Paris on October 7, 1268. He remained bishop until he passed away on September 3, 1279.

The Condemnations of 1277

In 1270, Tempier issued a first condemnation. He was encouraged by a scholar named Henry of Ghent. This first list banned 13 ideas that were popular among some thinkers who followed the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. These ideas included beliefs about how the mind works, how things happen, and whether the world had always existed.

Later, a Portuguese church leader named Juliani became Pope John XXI. On January 28, 1277, the Pope wrote to Tempier. He had heard rumors about strange ideas being taught in Paris. The Pope asked Tempier to look into the situation. Tempier was already investigating these ideas at the university.

On March 7, 1277, Tempier made his list much bigger. He condemned 219 different ideas. He had help from a group of important religious scholars from the university. Henry of Ghent was part of this group.

What Ideas Were Condemned?

The condemned ideas often went against the teachings of Aristotle. Some of the scholars whose ideas were questioned included Giles of Rome, Siger of Brabant, and even some ideas linked to Thomas Aquinas.

One interesting idea on the list was that God could not move the universe because it would mean there was empty space. Tempier also disagreed with Aristotle on another point: he said that God could have created more than one world, even though we believe He only made one. This showed Tempier's strong belief in God's unlimited power.

Tempier's actions helped people think differently about the universe. By rejecting some of Aristotle's old ideas, like stars being alive or controlling people's lives, Christians showed they were ready to challenge ancient Greek thinking.

It's not fully clear why Tempier made these condemnations. However, many experts believe that this event showed a big change in how people thought at the university. It marked a shift in ideas that led to new ways of understanding the world.

Opposition and Overturning

Even with Tempier's rules, the ideas of scholars like Thomas Aquinas continued to be discussed freely. Tempier's decree faced a lot of disagreement. Eventually, his condemnations were officially overturned in 1325.

See also

• Averroism
• Godfrey of Fontaines
• Omnipotence paradox
• Vacuum