Suárez, Francisco (1548–1617)

Spanish philosopher and theologian. He wrote his first work, De Verbo Incarnato, in 1590, which was noted for its attempts to reconcile the Thomist view of the Redemption as the final cause of the Incarnation with that of John Duns Scotus. Suárez was appointed professor of theology at Coimbra University in 1597, where he lectured until 1616. He was an adherent of Thomas Aquinas but was opposed by strict Dominican Thomists. His Defensio fidei attacked the doctrine of a divine right of kings and the English oath of allegiance in particular.

Suárez was born in Granada, Spain. He was educated at the University of Salamanca, where he entered the Society of Jesus in 1564. He is considered the greatest Jesuit theologian and his opinions on many dogmatic questions continued to have importance in modern theological schools.