Publishers' description:
The book Risk and Medieval ‘Negotium' presents how the concepts of risk and responsibility in economic life were described in the medieval texts. The analysed sources belong to the early phase of the medieval reflection on business and entrepreneurship, in the framework of the theologia practica. The research concerns confessional summas by Peter the Chanter, Robert Courson, Thomas Chobhamand Raymond of Penyafort, Summa aurea by William of Auxerre, Summa Halensis, and the unedited Casus fratris Clari. The selected Clarus' casus are enclosed in the Appendix. Moreover, the later medieval authors – such as Thomas Aquinas, Giles of Lessines, Peter Olivi and Matthew of Krakow – are referred to in the comparative perspective. The book deals with the crucial references to canons and to the Bible which constituted the background of the examined sources. The author analyses the meanings of the terms periculum and dubium in the papal decretals In civitate and Naviganti with regard to the comments of the 13th century theologians and canonists. After the analyses of the texts, the different contexts of terms periculm and dubium in the medieval ‘economic language' are collated. The issue of interconnection between these terms and the concepts of just price and usury is also discussed.

Contents:
FOREWORD by PAOLO PRODI - PREFACE.
PART ONE: CRUCIAL NOTIONS AND REFERENCES
I Medieval attitude towards risk in economic activities
II References to canons: periculum
- III References to canons: dubium
- IV References to the Bible and theological perspective
- V Analytical and ethical categories and
understanding of medieval language-
PART TWO: ANALYSES OF THE TEXTS
VI Peter the Chanter and his disciples: the rise of theologia practica referring to economic life
- VII William of Auxerre: crucial notions of intentio and industria
- VIII Raymond of Penyafort and the interpretation of papal decretals
- IX Summa Halensis and ethics of mercantile enterprise
- X Casus fratris Clari: diversity of examined contracts
Appendix: The selected chapters of CASUS FRATRIS CLARI
PART THREE: THE COMPARATIVE OUTLOOK
XI Terms periculum and dubium in different contexts: from Peter the Chanter to Clarus Florentinus
- XII Risk and uncertainty, and the crucial medieval ‘economic' ideas: conclusions.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEX OF CITATIONS FROM THE BIBLE
INDEX OF CITATIONS FROM DECRETUM AND DECRETALS
INDEX OF NAMES.