Gabriel Biel

Gabriel Biel (born between 1420 and 1425, died December 7, 1495) was a German scholastic philosopher and a member of the Canons Regular of the Congregation of Windesheim. Born in Speyer and died in Einsiedel near Tübingen, he was ordained a priest in 1432 and pursued higher education at Heidelberg, Erfurt, and Cologne Universities. Biel was influenced by William of Ockham's nominalist views, becoming an "articulate spokesman of the *via moderna*." He served as a preacher and vicar at the Cathedral of Mainz, later becoming a superior of canons and a provost in Butzbach and Urach. In 1484, he was appointed the first professor of theology at the newly founded University of Tübingen, where he also served as Rector. His most important work is his commentary on the *Sentences* of Peter Lombard, which significantly influenced Martin Luther. Biel is also noted for his progressive views on political economy, discussing just price, the role of merchants, and critiquing currency debasement. He is often referred to as the "last of the Scholastics."