Richard Rufus of Cornwall facts for kids

Richard Rufus (whose name in Latin, Ricardus Rufus, means "Richard the Red") was an important Cornish Franciscan friar, philosopher, and theologian who died around the year 1260. He was known for his deep thinking and writings during the Middle Ages.

Who Was Richard Rufus?

Richard Rufus was a smart scholar who studied at famous universities in Paris and Oxford starting in the 1220s. Around 1230, he joined the Franciscan order, which is a group of religious people who follow the teachings of Saint Francis of Assisi.

What Did Richard Rufus Study?

Rufus was one of the first thinkers in the Middle Ages to write about the ideas of Aristotle, a very famous ancient Greek philosopher. His writings about Aristotle are some of the oldest ones we still have today. He also wrote important comments on a book called Sentences by Peter Lombard, which was a key text for studying theology back then.

Who Influenced Richard Rufus?

Many great minds of his time influenced Richard Rufus. These included Robert Grosseteste, Alexander of Hales, Richard Fishacre, and Johannes Philoponus. In turn, Rufus's ideas also influenced later philosophers like Bonaventure and Franciscus Meyronnes.

What Did People Think of Richard Rufus?

Not everyone agreed about Richard Rufus. Roger Bacon, another well-known scholar, was a strong critic. He thought Rufus was only popular with people who didn't know much. However, Thomas of Eccleston praised Rufus, saying he was an excellent teacher.

Another person, Adam de Marisco, described Rufus in a letter. He said Rufus wasn't very good at speaking English but was a very honest person with a good reputation. He was also very knowledgeable in both human and religious studies. The reason he wasn't good at English was because his main language was Cornish.

Richard Rufus's Writings

Richard Rufus wrote several important books and commentaries. These works helped shape the ideas and discussions of his time, especially in philosophy and theology.

• Peter Raedts wrote a book about him called Richard Rufus of Cornwall and the Tradition of Oxford Theology.
• Richard Rufus of Cornwall, In Aristotelis De Generatione et corruptione, edited by Rega Wood and Neil Lewis, New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. This book is about Aristotle's ideas on how things are created and destroyed.
• Richard Rufus of Cornwall, In Physicam Aristotelis, edited by Rega Wood, New York: Oxford University Press, 2011. This book is about Aristotle's ideas on physics.