Rafael Landívar University

P.E.M. in Philosophy

Rafael Alejandro Caal Dionisio

What is Scholasticism?

The meaning of scholasticism is 'school', as it was a knowledge cultivated in the

schools, under the direction of a teacher (scholasticus). It all arose from the idea of
Charlemagne, and the goal was the teaching of liberal arts in schools.
monastic or episcopal, later expanded and reformed. He strove to unify a
heterogeneous empire, which included Franks, Germans, and Latins. I tried to elevate the
cultural level, in order to train qualified officials in his government; was a protector
from the Church. He brought wise men of his time to his court.

The era of Charlemagne is a testament to the endurance of the spirit of

admiration and deep respect for the values of ancient Rome, with a certain attempt to
reforming the empire and expanding in the government. In the realm of the scholars of that
time anticipated the humanists in their passion for searching and collecting
ancient manuscripts of pagans or Christians, to form libraries and collections;
Thanks to that, a large amount of writings were preserved.

The term later came to characterize a theology and a philosophy that then
denominating non-scholastic, in contrast to other teachings with procedures
different. In this way, scholastic theology was the one that interpreted the Bible
using a technical, scientific method, applying the contributions of the sciences that
were also enriched by scholasticism, such as grammar, dialectic, and the
philosophy, to put them into broader rational forms.

In this new movement, very intellectual and important figures emerge for
humanity and the expansion of knowledge: dialectics with St. Anselm and Abelard, mystics
like St. Bernard and Richard of St. Victor, humanists like John of Salisbury,
rhetoricians like William of Auvergne, theologians like St. Bonaventure and St. Thomas of
Aquino, St. Thomas Aquinas and William of Ockham.

Scholasticism enriches theology and philosophy in such a varied way

distinct; in the case of philosophy it is: the term scholasticism does not define it so accurately.
like theology. On the one hand, because philosophy as such does not exist in the West.
until the recovery of Aristotelian works at the end of the 12th century. What until
then the existence of philosophy is reduced to a little dialectic and to some remnants of the
liberal arts. And until the 13th century, the faculties of arts became faculties
Philosophical. Philosophy is not studied for its own sake, but to assist theology.

There are also varieties or types of scholastics according to G. Fritz: 'like the'
Christian, Muslim, Byzantine, Nestorian, and Monophysite. And at the same time they initiate or of
background, to reduce it to the problem that will later be raised by "Christian philosophy." They are distinguished
four stages: a) formation (9th-11th century); b) development (12th century); c) peak (13th century) and decline
(14th-15th century).

The thought of Aristotle predominates, and then it is reduced only to dialectics;

to then prevail the Platonic thanks to the patristics, thereby giving a
balance. This period is also characterized by a dynamic tension and by a
deep longing for recovery and progress. The great merit of scholasticism is that of
having created a rigorous research method and a sober technical terminology
it is necessary for a more scientific expression.

The formation of scholasticism is linked to a recovery of thought.

Greek, especially from Aristotle in the West with Muslim thought. For
Mandonnet identifies three reasons for Aristotle's entry into the West: due to the
translations made by Boethius, for the formation of a new logic and the
recovery of the Aristotelian Body. Thus giving a grammatical, dialectical use,
a philosophy; to be able to explain the Christian dogma.

In the East, despite having the works of Aristotle, they had little influence; but
In logic, his contribution was quite significant. They were commented on by Platonic philosophers of Alexandria.

Athens and Constantinople, and thanks to being known in Antioch, they passed to
West.
It achieved its greatest splendor in the 13th century, but in the 14th century it is noted that it had declined.

turned into an unachievable dream of uniting the desires of Charlemagne. The

harmony between religious and political powers, because the peoples were once united
they begin to become nations, acquiring form and organization of
monarchy. They start the quarrels with the Pope and the kings; the Black Death along with the
Hunger ravages Europe; the rigor of religious orders decreases, with consequences.
devastating for everything that had been developed in science, philosophy, and theology.

In the theological and philosophical aspect, it means the resolution of the great problem of the
relationships between philosophy and revelation, which have been raised in previous centuries.
Thus beginning a new era.

The characters that stood out in the pre-Scholastic period were Peter of Pisa,
Pablo of Aquileia; but the most important scholar was Alcuinus who directed the school of
York in England. There is also the monk Fredagiso, Pascasio Radberto, the monk.
Godescalco and Rabanus Maurus.

A character who achieved great prominence was John Scotus Eriugena, a philosopher born
in Ireland. I touch on the topics of the uncreated and created nature by God, created and
creator, created and not creator, and, not created and not creator. In that time, two emerge.
dilemmas of dialectics, whose representatives were Anselm of Bec, Fulbert and
Berengar of Tours. And the anti-dialecticians, among them Peter Damian, Otloh of St.
Emmera, and Manegold of Lautenbach. A dispute about the universals also arises,
giving rise to two currents: nominalists and realists. When talking about this, it is necessary
highlight the figure of Anselm, 'father of scholasticism' and Peter Abelard; both with
different thoughts.

In this era, schools like that of Chartres emerge, founded by Fulbert;

the characters that stood out the most were: William of Conches, Gilbert of Poitiers and
Juan of Salisbury. Along with her, a certain mystique arises, among them is Bernard of
Claraval, who had a great influence in his time; among them is the school of the Augustinians in
Paris, among them are Hugo of St. Victor and Ricardo.

As mentioned at the beginning, Arab philosophy emerged, which had many characteristics.
Neoplatonists and conservators of many thoughts of Aristotle, the one that most...
highlight was Avicenna and Averroes. And Jewish philosophy, which was independent due to the
study of revelation, among them are: Moses Maimonides and Saadia ben Joseph.

High Scholasticism gave way to Aristotle, the universities that already existed
mentioned above and the mendicant orders. It was the time of greatest
literary and knowledge production; great figures emerged. Like Rogerio
Bacon touched on the themes of science and faith, and depth in the natural sciences. Saint
Buenaventura, who was a Franciscan and a great figure in theology, addressed the themes of knowledge.
and faith, of charity and the theme of the metaphysics of light. There was also great thought
by Aristotle in human thought, as had Albert the Great and Thomas of
Aquino, who not only took it but also improved it, about this character I would like
expand, since it contains the pinnacle of scholasticism and the greatest achievements of it
era and many of the previous and later thoughts are in what he wrote.

Thomas Aquinas had the ability to assimilate and systematically organize

the most diverse elements in a unique set. He was a sober, simple writer, with
robustness and a supreme simplification and elegance in lines. It is not bound to anyone nor
belongs to no school. It takes what suits it from everyone. But it prints
its own seal. It not only uses Aristotle as a basis but also embraces other elements.
Platonic and Stoic ideas that are already assimilated into Christianity through long tradition.
doctrinal (Platonism, Aristotelianism, Neoplatonism, Augustinianism).

I am carrying out one of the greatest doctrinal revolutions in history, without

some uproar and silently. To a falsely traditional scholastic, which is
it closed off all progress, replacing a living and fruitful scholasticism, in which, after
to assimilate them, introduces the new contributions of Aristotle's philosophy,
Neoplatonists, Muslims, and Jews. Thomistic scholasticism has its own character,
outstanding, and such a strong stamp of originality.

In his early writings, notions of his thought appear: concept of

being, act-potencies, form-matter, etc. It proposes against the plurality of forms,
substantial unit. To universal hylomorphic composition, the simplicity of the
subsistent forms. To seminal reasons, the pure potentiality of raw material. To
the identity between the essence of the soul and its operative powers, the real distinction. To the
identification of essence and existence, their real distinction. To the special enlightenment of
God, the natural activity of the agent understanding inherent to each individual. To
voluntarism, intellectualism. To enlightenment in knowledge, the assertion that
all knowledge, including that of God and of spiritual substances, has its source in the
sensible perceptions. And the importance of Thomism in the contribution of a rigorous
scientific spirit, to achieve truly scientific results.

In any of his treaties, there are abundant citations from Latin authors (Augustine,
Boethius, Jerome, Isidore, Hilary, Bede, Gregory the Great...) Greeks (Aristotle, Plato,
Gregory of Nyssa, John of Damascus, pseudo-Dionysius...) Muslims (Avicenna, Averroes)
Jews (Ibn Gabirol, Maimonides…). He does not mention authors from his time, but he is aware of them.
I cite Aristotle more deeply due to the rigor of the Aristotelian method, so
appreciated for an exact spirit and a lover of clear and precise formulas.

No matter how great the authority of writers, it always remains before them.
a respectful attitude, even when it does not align with the truth. Even when it is maintained
the formulas and Aristotelian expressions, in many cases he uses them in a sense
completely different. He has a different idea of God as Aristotle does. To an ethics
limited it opens another morality that opens before man horizons of eternity. Its
Aristotelianism is not pure, but refined and enriched.

The problem of faith and reason, which prevailed in the Middle Ages; has its point
culminating, and its solution with Tomás, not only in theories but in practice. It has a
attitude similar to that of Albert the Great. Accepts both terms and at the same time, they take
harmony and reconciliation. The foundation of the Thomistic distinction between the fields of
philosophy and theology consists in their clear distinction between natural and supernatural order.
They are two distinct orders, but not opposing or contradictory, rather they
are harmoniously complemented. Grace does not destroy nature, but rather it
perfects.

It distinguishes a double order of knowledge: A) natural (human reason) and B)

supernatural (divine revelation); and both come from God, from the same truth, by
they do not contradict each other. The relationship between philosophy and revelation results in the
theology. C) theology benefits from both the contributions of faith and philosophy;
to explain, penetrate, and delve as deeply as possible into the data provided to you
the faith.

There are two distinct theologies. One rational, made by reason, and another Christian.
harmony of reason and faith. The formal object is revelation. Theology is science, in
the rigorous sense of the word. But due to its formal object, it occupies a special place and
aside from all the human sciences, even when it sometimes coincides with them in its
material object. It attributes functions to reason in theology: rational demonstration,
declarative and explanatory function of the articles of faith, deductive function, function
organizer and systematizer; and defensive function.

There were, so to speak, opponents or people who thought differently than Tomas, such as
for example, John Duns Scotus, born in Scotland, who defended the dogma of the
Immaculate.

Late scholasticism gave rise to different currents such as the moderns and the ancients.
and the mystics. One of the people who stood out the most was William of Ockham,
born in England.

During the time of scholasticism, many great thinkers emerged who

They illuminated the path of philosophy and theology, it was an era in which
they established the foundations for the education of the people and initiated the universities.
It was also the period in which the thoughts of the ancient Greeks were nurtured.
and philosophers from other Eastern traditions, thanks to that they have endured until our
days. There were the foundations for profound advances in literature and various arts, and the
division of the sciences in a more scientific and less spiritual way. Concluding that
this era is one that marks the birth of new thoughts and techniques.