The reception of Aristotle in Martin Luther’s late theological writings

Vodenko, Konstantin Viktorovič (author)

The ambiguous legacy of Martin Luther, the sixteenth-century German reformer, includes his expressive, intellectual reactions to Aristotle’s ideas. His vehement criticism of the ancient philosopher in some of his later writings may have eclipsed Luther’s more balanced reception of Aristotle in his early career. Furthermore, careful distinctions must be made between Luther’s views on medieval Aristotelianism vs the original ideas of Aristotle. Finally, when assessing the German reformer’s appraisal of Aristotle, it is vital to distinguish between the vertical, coram Deo, horizontal, coram hominibus, human situatedness, and interaction dimensions. This article argues that, despite the strong rejection of Aristotle’s usefulness for theology by Luther, we can discern a limited use of Aristotelian categories by Luther when dealing with some matters of politics and ethics (the rule of law in a state and an individual’s virtues). Based on Luther’s mature writings, we will examine Luther’s notions of sin, concupiscence, justification, divine grace, and human will, as these topics resonate in his treatment of Aristotle’s philosophical heritage.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Aristotle, Aristotelianism, Martin Luther, justification, reason, free will
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: TEOF - Theological Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 01.01.2021
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: Str. 23-33
• Numbering: Letn. 81, [št.] 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-163860
• UDC: 274-28:929Luther M.
• ISSN on article: 0006-5722
• DOI: 10.34291/BV2021/01/Vodenko
• COBISS.SI-ID: 86953731
• Publication date in RUL: 14.10.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Bogoslovni vestnik : glasilo Teološke fakultete v Ljubljani
• Shortened title: Bogosl. vestn.
• Publisher: Teološka fakulteta
• ISSN: 0006-5722
• COBISS.SI-ID: 8745472

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Sprejemanje Aristotela v poznih teoloških delih Martina Lutra

Abstract

Dvoumna zapuščina Martina Lutra, nemškega reformatorja iz 16. stoletja, vključuje njegove čustvene odzive na Aristotelove ideje. Zdi se, da je Lutrova ostra kritika antičnega filozofa v nekaterih njegovih poznih delih zameglila bolj uravnoteženo sprejemanje Aristotela v zgodnjih letih. Poleg tega je treba izpostaviti jasno razlikovanje med Lutrovim pogledom na srednjeveški aristotelizem in izvornimi Aristotelovimi idejami. Pri obravnavi vrednotenja, ki ga je o Aristotelu izražal nemški reformator, je nadalje ključno, razlikovati med vertikalno (coram Deo) in horizontalno (coram hominibus) razsežnostjo človeškega stanja in sporazumevanja. Članek zagovarja stališče, da je kljub izrazitemu zavračanju koristnosti Aristotela za teologijo pri Lutru mogoče opaziti omejeno rabo aristotelskih kategorij na področju političnih in etičnih zadev (vladavina prava v državi in kreposti pri posameznih osebah). Na podlagi Lutrovih zrelih spisov obravnavamo njegovo razumevanje greha, poželenja, opravičenja, božje milosti in človeške volje, saj prav te teme odmevajo skozi njegovo obravnavo Aristotelove filozofske dediščine.

• Keywords: Aristotel, aristotelizem, Martin Luther, opravičenje, razum, svobodna volja