Stephen Langton and Geoffrey of Poitiers on the Natural Power to Believe

The article discusses the problem of the natural potentiality involved in faith. Stephen Langton and his disciple, Geoffrey of Poitiers, defend the view that the human being has a natural ability to believe, and by believing they intend acts and movements of a meritorious virtue. However, the two thinkers offer different interpretations of this natural ability. This difference makes it possible to ascribe a small group of anonymous questions to Geoffrey rather than to his English master. The article concludes with a critical edition of two theological questions by Geoffrey of Poitiers and Stephen Langton.