AMALRIC (Amalricus, Almaricus, Amauricus), Di Bena. - Celebrated French theologian and philosopher of the 12th century, a native of Bène (Bènes, Bennes) near Chartres. He completed his higher studies in Paris and took his degree at the Sorbonne, where he subsequently established his reputation as a professor. Through the sharpness of his intelligence, the originality of his method, his inclination toward criticism and his resistance to traditional opinions, A. commanded everyone's admiration. But the University of Paris was hostile to him, accusing him of heresy. On his journey to Rome he was unable to obtain the protection of Innocent III, by whom he was instead condemned. Having returned to Paris, he recanted only in appearance and died shortly afterward (in 1205 or 1207), leaving behind him a host of followers called Amalricians (= Amaurani +), who spread his theories, developing them extensively.
The absolute lack of writings concerning his thought makes it impossible to establish to what extent the errors of the disciples can be ascribed to the master. Basing themselves on what is reported by the anonymous treatise Contra amauriana (ca. 1207-20), William of Brittany (d. 1227), Caesarius of Heisterbach (d. 1240), Henry of Susa (d. 1271), Martin of Poland (d. 1279), St. Thomas Aquinas and other authors contemporary with him, modern scholars generally agree in attributing to A. an absolute pantheism, founded on the universality of being and closely reminiscent of Scotus Eriugena, the pseudo-Dionysius and their Neoplatonic sources, particularly Proclus and Plotinus. « As the nature of Abraham is not different but identical to that of Isaac, so all beings are one single being and all beings are God » (Martin of Poland). From this false pantheistic conception of the universe the Amalricians deduced the most extreme consequences in the dogmatic and moral order. To these they added the theories of Joachim of Fiore (d. 1202) concerning the three ages of the world, declaring that the new era of the Holy Spirit had already begun, an era that abolishes the sacraments and is incarnated in every follower of A., who thereby becomes a Man-God just like Jesus Christ. As the Holy Spirit, who works all things in all, is absolutely impeccable, so the "spiritual" man is immune from any guilt and may lawfully permit himself every sinful action. The law of the new era is the law of love, and any act, even the most abominable, performed under the impulse of love is neither a sin nor liable to punishment in the life to come. Hell is ignorance, paradise is the knowledge of truth, possessed only by the Amalricians, for whom there exist neither Sacraments nor a future resurrection.
These errors were condemned for the first time in 1210, together with the writings of Scotus Eriugena and Aristotle's books on natural philosophy, by the Synod of Paris, which had A.'s body exhumed and removed from the cemetery. The Fourth Lateran Council (1215) again proscribed the Amalrician doctrine, declaring it "more senseless than heretical."
Bibliography8 works
Emanuele Chietini