WILLIAM OF AUXERRE (Guillelmus Altisiodorensis). - Philosopher and theologian, born between 1144-49, died 3 Nov. 1231. He was a master of theology at the University of Paris and is the author of a celebrated Summa theologica, also known as the Summa aurea (Paris 1500, 1518; Venice 1591).
In addition to the Summa aurea, in his early years he wrote a commentary on the Anticlaudianus of Alan of Lille and a Summa de officiis, both of which survive in manuscript.
He belongs to the group of theologians of Augustinian tradition, but not overly conservative; indeed, he was open to the influence of Aristotelian doctrines that were then spreading through the Latin world. Together with Simon of Authie and Stephen of Provins, he was commissioned by Gregory IX to revise the physical and metaphysical books of Aristotle (whose reading in schools had been prohibited in 1210 and 1215), so that the corrected edition they produced might be permitted in the University. He affirms the necessity of rational (theological) speculation on revealed data, as already taught by St. Anselm, whose ontological argument for the existence of God he accepts (though he also sets forth the argument based on the principle of causality).