Gerard of Monte (De Monte)

GERARD OF MONTE (De Monte). - Philosopher and writer, b. at Heerenberg around 1400, d. at Cologne on 31 October 1480. Enrolled at the University of Cologne in 1421, he taught there first philosophy (1424-38) and then theology. He was dean of the faculty of philosophy from 1427 to 1433; twice rector of the University (1436, 1453) and then for 49 years (1431-80) rector of the Gymnasium known as the Bursa, called "del Monte" after his name.

A disciple of Henry of Gorcum, in the controversies between Albertists and Thomists he was a tenacious supporter of the Thomist theses and an assertor of the real agreement of St. Thomas and Albert the Great on all the points in dispute. Therefore, against Heymericus de Campo, head of the opposition and author of the Problemata inter s. Thomam et Albertum Magnum, he wrote a Tractatus ad favorabilem dirigens concordiam quaedam problemata inter s. Thomam et venerabilem Albertum; he also wrote Tractatus concordantiae (ed. Cologne [1496] and recently by G. Meersseman, Rome 1934), in which he brings out the real agreement that exists between theses of St. Thomas that are apparently contradictory. To the Insectiva of Heymericus he replied with the Apologia (ed. in G. Meersseman, Geschichte des Albertismus, II, Rome 1935, pp. 122-28), in which he narrates the history of the controversy from 1423 and refutes the calumnies of his opponent.

Alfonso D'Amato