John Lutterell

Who is John Lutterell?

John Lutterell was an English medieval philosopher, theologian, and university chancellor.

Lutterell was a Dominican and a Canon of Salisbury Cathedral. He was Chancellor of Oxford University from 1317–22. However, he was so disliked by the regent masters at Oxford that he was expelled as Chancellor there. Even though he was a Doctor of Theology, he demonstrated a poor understanding of Ockham's ideas. As a result the papal commission appointed to examine Ockham was forced to revise the list of 56 errors prior to beginning its own inquiry.

John Lutterell went to Avignon in 1323 where he hoped to advance his career at the papal court. He carried with him a booklet of 56 errors taken from a commentary on the Sentences of Peter Lombard by William of Ockham. Lutterell presented this to Pope John XXII. Lutterell may have been given the task of compiling a report on Ockham's views.

Lutterell believed that a reality can have rational differences. Opposing Ockham, he argued that these ideas cannot be created things. Instead these ideas are eternal and immutable, but creatures are not. Ockham was questioned by Lutterell and five other theologians.