Abstract

Recent research has established that in his De secundis intentionibus, Hervaeus Natalis reacted to views of the modist thinker Radulphus Brito. Historians have noted several points of disagreement between Hervaeus and Radulphus, but I maintain more precision is needed. I argue that the core of the dispute is found in two points: first, a disagreement on what to call 'intention'; second, a disagreement regarding the process through which things lead to the formation of our universal concepts (genera, species, etc.). I argue that this second point shows a profound shift regarding the root of universal concepts.