Rilanciare la tolleranza ripensando le sue basi medievali? Riflessioni a partire da un libro di Cristophe Grellard.

The publication of Christophe Grellard's recent volume La possibilità dell'errore presents the Late-Medieval debates on erroneous conscience as a basis for the developments of the modern notion of tolerance. This work proposes a fruitful historiographical way of approaching the relationship between late-medieval debates and modern innovations; it also makes a reflection on the role that Thomas Aquinas played in the history of the idea of tolerance. In addition to addressing the issue of erroneous conscience, Thomas indicates divine providence as the highest and most perfect model of tolerance. Reflecting on the divine government of the world, tolerance results from a deeper promotion of the common good. Such a consideration seems particularly stimulating today, when the need to respond with strength and timeliness to the global emergencies makes the practice of this virtue more difficult.