During his first tenure as lecturer at Cologne, Albert wrote his Summa de bono after having a discussion with Philip the Chancellor concerning the transcendental properties of being. In 1245, Albert became master of theology under Gueric of Saint-Quentin, the first German Dominican to achieve this distinction.
Albert's work on the Summa de bono was inspired by a discussion with Philip the Chancellor about the transcendental properties of being.  His appointment as master of theology under Gueric of Saint-Quentin marked a significant achievement for Albert and for the order of Dominican friars in Germany.