Note 3

Cf. M. Dvořák, Idealismus und Naturalismus in der gotischen Skulptur und Malerei, Munich, 1918 (originally in Historische Zeitschrift, 3rd ser., XXIII), passim; E. Panofsky, Deutsche Plastik des elften bis dreizehnten jahrhunderts, Munich, 1924, pp. 65 ff. We can easily see that the ecclesiastical authorities found it hard to acquiesce in this new, Aristotelian point of view. As late as 1215 the University of Paris endorsed the resolution of the Synod of Paris of 1210 which had condemned Aristotle’s Metaphysics and Naturalia (and even abridgments thereof) together with such outright heretics as David of Dinant and Amaury de Bène who taught the unity of God with His creation. In 1231 Pope Gregory IX tacitly admitted the Metaphysics but reiterated the prohibition of the Naturalia as long as they had not been “censored and expurgated of errors.” He even set up a commission for this purpose; but by this time the moment for effective countermeasures had passed.