Abstract

The article argues against the view that Peter Abelard’s ethical theory had no lasting influence in its time. It establishes that Abelard’s Parisian successor Robert of Melun adopted his views and elaborated upon them. According to Robert, in his day it was commonly assumed that sin is action against one’s own conscience. Like Abelard, he held that intention alone makes the difference between good and bad actions. Robert had, however, a more elaborate theory of the will than did Abelard, and Robert discussed the relationship between the will and intention. Robert’s most relevant texts on these topics are edited on the basis of all available manuscripts, and their textual relationship is discussed.