Scholastic philosophy: what it is and what topics it addresses

What is scholastic philosophy? How did it arise, at what stage did it predominate and how is it understood today? What are the topics it addresses? What stages can it be divided into?

In this article we will answer these and other questions, in addition to mentioning some of the most outstanding representatives of this current of philosophy and theology.

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What is scholastic philosophy?

Etymologically, the word “scholastic” comes from the Latin “scholasticus”, which means “one who teaches or studies at school”. Scholastic philosophy consists of that medieval philosophical current, and also theological, which used part of classical Greco-Roman philosophy to understand the religious meaning of Christianity.

Let us remember here that classical Greco-Roman philosophy, for its part, is that current of philosophy that mixes knowledge, traditions and customs formed from the fusion of the Greek and Roman peoples.

We can say that scholastic philosophy

carried out in universities (in the faculties of Theology and Arts), and is literally translated as "philosophy of schoolchildren" (ie, from university professors).

In fact, it was the predominant form of philosophy between the 11th and 16th centuries, which continued to be present in the universities during the modern period (and also in the cathedral schools) and up to the present.

development and period

This current of philosophy and theology predominated in the heart of medieval thought. But, specifically, when was scholastic philosophy developed? It was throughout the Middle Ages, mainly in the field of Christianity, although it also developed in the Arab and Jewish spheres.

Also, if we focus on the Christian West, we can talk about medieval philosophy, similar to scholastic philosophy, but that in this case it would encompass both philosophy and theology, both taught during the mentioned period of the Middle Ages. Half.

General characteristics

Regarding its characteristics, we find two essential ones: its connection with the sacred texts of the Bible, together with the tradition of the Church and faith, and the use of reason to interpret reality.

The reason is the tool used to interpret the texts of the Bible and also the own reflections about it. One of the prominent mottos of scholastic philosophy is: "the faith that seeks to understand."

cultural bases

We have seen how one of the bases on which scholastic philosophy was initially based was classical Greco-Roman philosophy. However, it was also based on the Arab and Judaic philosophical currents.

In this sense, we can speak of heterogeneous theoretical bases. In this sense, during its beginnings, scholastic philosophy had the mission of consolidating the great religious systems in a "single" classical philosophical tradition.

As a criticism of this current, it has been mentioned an overreliance on argument from religious authority, and an oversight, in a certain way, of the more empirical and scientific aspect.

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Scholastic philosophy as a working method

The scholastic philosophy is based on a method of intellectual work that we can call "scholastic", and which consists of submit all ideas to the principle of authority. This philosophy, moreover, based its teaching on the reiteration of classical texts, especially the Bible.

We must emphasize here that the bible was the main source of knowledge. Beyond this, a positive aspect of scholasticism is that it fostered two types of thought or ways to interpret and analyze reality and/or religious texts, and which were the reasoning and speculation.

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What topics does it address?

The central theme of scholastic philosophy is the problematic between faith and reason, and it is included in all the manuals, sentences and texts that graduates in theology must read, or readers/amateurs who want to be trained in it.

Specifically, its mission is to coordinate faith and reason, although reason was always subordinated to faith, as We can verify through one of its representative phrases: "Philosophia ancilla theologiae", that means “philosophy is the servant of theology”.

But the topics covered by scholastic philosophy go much further, since scholastic thought was very broad and did not have a single line to which its various authors adhered. In fact, we can talk about three great themes or problems in particular, especially discussed by scholastic philosophy, and which were the following.

1. The question of universals

This question has to do with the real existence or not of abstract concepts. We can find, within scholastic philosophy, two large groups of scholastics; those who deny the real existence of abstract concepts (the so-called "nominalists") and those who affirm it (the so-called "realists").

2. The relationship between faith and reason

From scholastic philosophy, it is understood that reason is a natural faculty present in all people, which, in addition, is part of the revelation of things. For the scholastics, faith must be rational to be true, and that is why one of their tasks is to demonstrate faith through reason..

In this sense, the relationship between faith and reason is another of the central themes of this current of philosophy, and this relationship must be collaborative.

3. The creation “ex-nihilo”

Finally, a third problem or theme widely addressed from scholastic philosophy is the creation of the "ex-nihilo" (that is, the creation "from nothing"). In this sense, Scholastic defenders believe that God is an "uncaused cause", which leads them to justify the very idea of ​​creation and the independence of creatures with respect to the “divine plan”.

Three stages

Finally, we can talk about three great stages in scholastic philosophy, which are the following.

1. First stage

The first stage goes from the beginning of the 9th century to the end of the 12th century.

Here the problematic of the question of universals prevails. (already explained), where there is a certain confrontation between the realists (represented by the French theologian and philosopher Guillermo de Champeaux), the nominalists (represented by Canon Roscelino, considered the founder of nominalism) and the conceptualists (represented by the philosopher and theologian, also French, Pedro Abelardo).

2. Second stage

In the second stage, which goes from the 12th century to the end of the 13th century, the figure of the philosopher Aristotle gains strength. At this stage it should be noted that philosophy is distinguished and, in a certain way, separates from theology.

3. third stage

The third and final stage of scholastic philosophy spanned the entire 14th century..

At this stage, the figure of the English scholastic philosopher and logician William of Ockham stands out. Guillermo defends nominalism and also opposes Thomism, another philosophical and theological school that originated thanks to the thought of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church. As a fact to highlight here, Guillermo has just separated, in this period, philosophy from theology.

Bibliographic references:

• Copleston, F. (2011). History of Philosophy, Volume 2. Ed. Ariel.
• Cortes, J. and Martinez, A. (1991). Herder Philosophy Dictionary. Barcelona, ​​Herder.
• Forment, E. (1998). History of Thomist philosophy in contemporary Spain. Meeting.
• Goni, C. (2010). Brief history of philosophy. Word.
• Lopez, J.M. (2001). Some philosophical concepts in William of Ockham, Truth and Life, 59(232).