Sharing Authority in the Middle Ages. The case of Étienne Gaudet
Sharing Authority in the Middle Ages. The case of Étienne Gaudet

Author(s): Alexandra Baneu
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Literary Texts, Middle Ages, Philosophy of Science, History of Sciences
Published by: Editura Pro Universitaria
Keywords: university teaching; manuscripts; debates; working notebooks; Étienne Gaudet; theology
Summary/Abstract: The transmission of knowledge in the Middle Ages involved various channels, notably manuscript texts, university teaching, and oral debates. However, beyond the content of teaching, the circulation of intellectual authority was essential and varied according to context. Classical authorities, although crucial, do not always make it possible to understand the specific dynamics of a given environment. Working notebooks offer a valuable perspective on these implicit transmissions by making explicit references which, in finalized works, would have remained underlying. The case study of Étienne Gaudet (ca. 1320-1392), a Parisian theologian, clearly illustrates this dynamic. Through the analysis of his manuscripts preserved in the Bibliothèque nationale de France, this article examines the authorities he mobilizes. The approach reveals a complex doctrinal space, mixing Oxonian and Parisian influences. By studying and integrating these sources, Gaudet actively participates in the debates of his time and shapes his own intellectual framework.

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