Summary
This work focuses on the philosophical figure of Abelard, particularly his role in shaping the scholastic method and his significant contributions to dialectic and ethics. Abelard's central argument, as presented, involved establishing a formally rational expression for received ecclesiastical doctrine. He decisively advanced the scholastic manner of philosophizing, preparing the way for Aristotle's eventual philosophical ascendancy in the Middle Ages, a shift from the earlier reliance on Plato.
The passages highlight Abelard's intellectual journey, his establishment of schools, and his debates with dominant philosophical theories like Realism. A key takeaway for readers is understanding Abelard's emphasis on subjective intention in ethics, a notion that anticipated later philosophical speculation. The work details his intellectual duels, his development of philosophical thought outside of pure dialectic, and his lasting influence on medieval scholasticism, particularly in ethics where his successors were less adventurous.
Key concepts
- Scholastic manner of philosophizing — Abelard's method of giving formally rational expression to received ecclesiastical doctrine.
- Realism — A dominant philosophical theory in the early Middle Ages, challenged and ultimately brought down by Abelard.
- Nominalism — Associated with Roscellinus, Abelard's teacher, representing an extreme view on universals.
- Subjective intention — Abelard's ethical emphasis on the internal aim of an action as determining its moral value.
From the book
For other versions of this work, see Encyclopædia Britannica . ← 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica ( 1911 ) Title page → related portals : Reference Works Shortcut : EB11 or EB1911 Notes on reading the Wikisource edition . A special disclaimer for this project . Collaboration page for contributors . 12543 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica 1911 Table of contents This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1931. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works . Public domain Public domain false false← Alabama 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica , Volume 1 "Alabama" Arbitration by Montague Hughes Crackanthorpe Alabama River → See also Alabama Claims on…
He is commonly known as Rab.← Abbadie, Jakob 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica , Volume 1 'Abbahu Abba Mari → See also Abbahu on Wikipedia ; and our 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica disclaimer . 12925 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica , Volume 1 — 'Abbahu ʼABBAHU, the name of a Palestinian ʼamora ( q.v. ) who flourished c . 279–320. ʼAbbahu encouraged the study of Greek by Jews. He was famous as a collector of traditional lore, and is very often cited in the Talmud.
He was author of Quaestiones ( Sheiltoth ), a collection of homilies (at once learned and popular) on Jewish law and ethics. This is recorded to have been the first work written by a Jewish scholar after the completion of the Talmud.← Alphabet 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica , Volume 1 'Al-phasi, Isaac Alphege, Saint → See also Isaac Alfasi on Wikipedia ; and our 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica disclaimer . 1202415 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica , Volume 1 — 'Al-phasi, Isaac ’AL-PHASI, ISAAC (1013–1103), Jewish rabbi and codifier, known as Riph , was born near Fez in 1013 and died at Lucena in 1103. ’Al-Phasi means the “man of Fez” (medieval Jews were often named after their birthplaces). He was forced to leave Fez when an old man of 75, being accused on some unknown political charge. He then…
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