Appeal of Wyclifs writings Flashcards
Who was John Wyclif?
John Wyclif was a theologian and reformer who lived in the 14th century in England.
Who were Bradwardine and Fitzroy and how did they relate to Wyclif’s thought?
They were outstanding thinkers who dominated academic circles before Wyclif, and Wyclif was their successor.
What was Wyclif’s ultrarealist metaphysics and how did it offer certainty of knowledge?
It was a philosophy that held that all knowledge and existence was derived from individual things, rather than from abstract concepts or general categories. Wyclif’s ultrarealist metaphysics offered a sense of certainty of knowledge. His views on poverty and attacks on the possession of the CWyclif’s ultrarealist metaphysics offered a sense of certainty of knowledge. His views on poverty and attacks on the possession of the Church made him a natural ally to the Friars, specifically the Augustinians. His views on Church-State relations attracted the attention of great men, and gave him a wider public notoriety.
Who defended Wyclif during his hearings at St. Paul’s and Lambeth Palace Chapel in 1377 and 1378?
John of Gaunt, and the Black Prince’s widow, defended Wyclif during hearings in St. Paul’s and at Lambeth Palace Chapel in 1377 and 1378.
What was the 1370s revival in agitation over clerical practices and how did it relate to Wyclif’s preaching?
It was a period of renewed interest in reforming clerical practices, particularly with regards to the wealth of the clergy and the rights of the laity to remove it. Wyclif’s preaching gradually took on a flavor of reform as it became more focused on clerical denunciation.
How did Wyclif’s views translate to the vernacular, and what impact did this have?
His views were promulgated to a wider audience and corresponded with contemporary thinking, allowing his ideas to resonate with many.
How did Wyclif become a figure in the 14th century European reactionary movement against Nominalism, and why was this important for his reputation?
His views aligned with the movement’s rejection of abstract concepts and general categories in favor of individual things, and this kept his reputation alive for later heresies.
What was the significance of the 1382 Council of Blackfriars for the development of English Lollardy?
It saw many superficial supporters of Wyclif fall away, but also gathered enough strands of patronage and interest for some scholars to remain committed supporters, providing a network of believers and disseminators for the movement.
What were Wyclif’s views on Church-State relations and how did they attract attention?
He believed that the remedy for Church abuses was through forcible reform by secular power and that the low moral standard of the church was the result of excess of property and material wealth. These views attracted the attention of great men and gave him wider public notoriety.
Why did Wyclif leave Oxford in 1381?
Wyclif left Oxford in 1381 after re-iterating his denial of transubstantiation in the Confession, which alienated John of Gaunt and much of his other parliamentary support.
What was De Blasphemia and how did it impact Wyclif’s reputation during the Peasants’ Revolt?
It was a work written around the time of the Peasants’ Revolt that criticized churchmen and politicians for allowing the state of affairs to worsen and lead to rebellion. Its content, combined with Wyclif’s teaching on possession, led contemporaries to blame him and his followers for the revolt.
1381
What was the controversy surrounding Wyclif’s denial of transubstantiation and how did it impact his parliamentary support?
His denial of transubstantiation in 1381 in the Confession alienated John of Gaunt and much of his other parliamentary support, leading to a decline in his political influence.
What was Wyclif’s response to these controversies, and what was the significance of his retirement to Lutterworth?
He remained committed to his beliefs and continued to write and preach, but his retirement to Lutterworth marked a shift away from the political and academic circles in which he had previously operated.
What was the Peasants’ Revolt?
The Peasants’ Revolt was a major uprising across large parts of England in 1381.
What was De Blasphemia?
De Blasphemia was a writing by Wyclif that was being worked on around the time of the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381. It criticised churchmen and politicians for allowing the state of affairs to worsen and lead to rebellion.