Medieval Philosophy and the Transcendentals: The Case of Thomas Aquinas (Studien Und Texte Zur Geistesgeschichte Des Mittelalters)

239 Pages·1996·32.05 MB·English

by  Jan A. Aertsen

STUDIENU ND TEXTE
MEDIEVAPLH ILOSOPHY
ZUR GEISTESGESCHICHTE
DES MITTELALTERS ANDT HET RANSCENDENTALS
nOIl.t,)H1>ETVO N
TheC asifeTh omAasq uinas
JOSEKFO CH
WtITEII.Ol.r1lHaT VON
PAUL WlLPERT UND ALBERT ZIMMERMANN
BY
HERAVSGEGEBEN VON
JAN A. AERTSEN JAN A.A ERTESN
IN
Z1,.ISAMMENARMBIETI T
TZOTCHO BOIADj1EV, MARK D.JORDAN
tJND ANDREAS SPEER (MAENOAIGTIONR:G)
BAND UI
MEDIEVAPLH ILOSOPHY
ANDT HET RANSCENDENTALS
E.JB.R JLL .
LEIDEN NEW YORK'K OLN
.
1996
Publiswhietdfih n ancisaulp pofrrto mt he
NetherlaOnrdgsa nizatiSocni efnotRrie fsieca r(cNWhO )
The papeirn t hibso okm eets gtuhied elifnoerps e rmanenacned d urabiloiftt hye
CommittoeneP roductGiuoind elifnoerBs o okLo ngevitoyft heC ouncoinl Library
Resources.
CONTENTS
Libraroyf C ongresCsa taloging-in-PubDlaitcaa tion
Preface
............................................. ........... ................... .................. ..
Aertsen,Jan
A.
Medievpahli losoapnhdty h et ranseend:et nhteca alssoe f T homas
Introduction .......................1. ............................................................
Aquina/s b yJ anA .A ertsen. ..
p. cm.- (StudiuenndT extzeu rG eistesgesedheis chte 0.1M.e dieval phials"o Cshorpihsypt hiialno sophy"
MittelalItSeSrN0s 1,6 9-8;1 2B5d.5 2)
(EG.i lso.n.). ...................................3.. ......................... .........
Includbeisb liograrpehfiecrael(n cpe.s ) a ndi ndex. .
0.2 " .T h II'neg .ul.Sttu lrcn .................1.0. ....................................
ISBN9 0041058(5c9l oatlhk:p. a per) " .
1.P hilosoMpehdyi,e va2l..T ranseenden3t.aT lhso.m asA,q uinas, 0.3'.'T heO lhesrp iroifmt e dievpahli losophy"
Sait,n1 225?-1274----COinntd roicbturtioiofnnt esr ansccndcntals. (Ad. eL ibe.r.a.). ....................1.4. .........................................
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1 Tide.I I.S eries.
0.4M.e dievpahli losoapnhdty r anscendental th1o7u ght.. ...
B738.T73A3179 96
II'I. 8-de20 96-5485
CIP ChaptOenre T heB eginnionftg hsDe o ctr'iontfeh e
Transcend.e.n.t.a.l.s. ..................2.5. ............................................
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DieD eutschBei bliot-hCeIkP -Einheitsaufnah:me
11 Ph1T t pt he ,aCnh c 1eo1 r's S ummdae b on.o. ........2.5. .............
• . .
Aertsen,J an A.: 1.2T.h eS ummtah Rolaotgtirciab tuoAt leedx anodfe r
Medievpahli losoapnhdty h et ranscend:et nhtecasea lso f
Hale..s. .......................................40. .......................................
ThomasA quin/a sb yJ anA .A erts-enLc.i <kn;N ewY ork; ..
Ktil:nB r il1l9,9 6 1.3A.l betrhteG reatE'asrW loyr k.s. ............ ...48. .....................
(Stuwe" uTna:dt ez ur Gei.tesged.echMsii chutdea l;tB edr.5! 2 )
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ISSN 0169-8125 .
ISBN 9004 105895 2.3T.h ep robloefmt haed dittiobo eni .n.g. .........8.4. .............
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2.4E.x plicaotfti hoen specialb emiondge:s of
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Aullwri<fttion tpIroofocoJ!J itemsfointonar lo rp ersonal
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DaIWtfS MA 0192U3SA,. 3.2T.h et ransformoaftt hieco onn ceopftm etaphysic1s 21
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Feesar em bjldto �. 3.3T.h ep rologoufTe h omasc'osm mentoanr y
PIlINBD INTH K N:lTHD.LANDI Ariset'oMste ltaypshi.c.s. .............. ..1.2.4. .................................
CONTENTS CONTENTS VB
3.4T.h em ethoodfr esoluatnidmo ent aphy.s.i..c..s.. ... ...1.3.0. 6.8E.x curs"uTsh:et rue awnhda itsm adea re
3.5T.h e imporotfaT nhcoem asc'osm mentoanry convert(iVbilc.e.o.",..),. ",.. ,... .... ,... . ,....,.. ... ,.., .... ,.... ,. .2..7..4. . .
MetapIhV. 136 6.9T.h et ruaen dt he f.a.l.s.e. ........................2..7...8.. ..................
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3.6T.h ei nquiirnytt oh e "pearc csied"eo nfbt esi .n.g... . . 141 6,1T0h.eo rdeorft hter uaen dt hge oo.d. ............ 2..8.4. ...............
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3.7M.e taphyasnidct sh efi rsptr inciopfdl eem onstrat1i4o6n
3.8T.h eq uestoifo nb eainndgt heh istoofr y ChaptSeerv eGno oda sT ranscend.e.n.t.aL. ....... ..290. ...................
philos.o.p.h.y. ................... ..1.5.1. .............7...1.T..h .eP. l.a.t.o.tn.hi.ec.s T.ih.se.:g . o.o.id.s b. e.y.o.nb.de. i..n..g.. .... . .29.2. ..
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5,1T.h e Philosopchoenrv:e rTthioebf bi eliinatgny d o ne 204
8.3P.s eudo-Dioannydts hiebu esa utifuL........3.3.9. .................
5,2T.h omaTsh:e c onvertiobfbi eliintagyn do ne.. .......2 07
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5.3T.r anscendevnetraslsuiustb ys tantoifta hleoi ntey. ..2.1.0 8.4T.w o teixntt hseS ummtah eoleo.g.i.a.........34.4. ......................
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5.6T.h eo nea ndt hceo mposed.....................2..3.1. .....................
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9.4B.e ing in g(eesncseoerm amlu naen)dd ivibneei ng..3.8.7
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9.5I.st heroen loyn et rutbhyw hicahl tlh inagrset rue? 395
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6,5T.h omasi'nsn ovatiinto hneds o ctroifnt eh e 10,S1o.u rcfeosrt hde octroifnt eh ter anscen.d,.e. n"t.al,4s.1 "9
transcend.e,.n....t,, a. l,s ".,.. ,, ..,,... .,....,.. ,..,. ,......,..,. ... ",.2 ..5,.6. ,. 10.S2y,s temiamtpiocr ta..n...c...e.... ................................... 4.2.7. ..
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6,7T.r ualel ar elatitornaalll Ncendental.,...2.6.9. ........................
CONTENTS
VlIl
Bibliohgyr ap ..,. .4 39
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IndeNxo minu.m,, ., ... , .. , .. , .. " ,.. .. ,"4 5.5. . ,., .. , ...... , .. , ... , ..... , ..................
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PREFACE
IndeRxe ru.m., .. ,.., .. . .., ,, ...,.,. ,, ,. ,, , , , , , , 459
. . ... . . . .. . . .... . .. .. .... .... .... .... .... .... ...
Att hee ndo fm y inauguardadlr eMsedsi evRaelf lecotni onTsru th,
deliveartte hde VrUinjiev ersiintA emistt erdoanmN ovembe9r,
198I4c ,o mmittmeyds ealsfi ,sn otu nusufaolra n ewp rofestsoao r,
rathaemrb itiporuosg raIma .n nounctehdat th em edievdaolc trine
oft het ranscendweonutlabdle s" thseu bjeocft mrye seaorvcehr
thec ominyge a.r"sT hed octrihnaes i ndeeedn gagemde
intensitvherloyu ghtohuelt a sdte cadaen,dI h avnee verre gretted
my choicIen.q uiirnyt o its anhdis sytsotreym daitmiecn sihoanss
confirmmeyd c onvicttihoanst u chi nvestigiasto ifso ing nal
importafnocrte h eu nderstanodfmi endgi evpahli losoTphhey .
presesnttu dcyo ncertnhsa pta rotf m y inquidreyv otteodt he
thougohftT homaAsq uinas,
My work hparso fiftreodmt hes uppoarntd e ncourageomfe nt
severpaelr soannsd i nstituIt wioounlsd, fliirktseot e xpremsys
gratittuod etP hhei losoDpehpya rtmoefn tt Vhrei Ujnei versfiotre it
thea mplreo omi tg avteo m y researchf oartn hdes timulating
discussoifoo unrRs e searGcrho upT.h efi rscth aptoefrt sh ibso ok
werew rittdeunr inmgy tenuraesF elloowf t heI nstitouft e
Philosoaptth hyeC athoUlniicv erosfiL toyu va(iSne ptem1b9e9r2 -
Februa1r9y9 3T)h.e m atchlfeascsi liatnidae msb ienocfet he
oldeusnti verisnti hteyL owC ountrmiaekse ointeo f mfya vourite
placteoss tudFyr,o mt hed ayosf m y dissertsattuidoiinen Ls o u­
vaionn wardIs h,a veen joyed frtiheen dsohfCi apr lSotse el, the
currePnrte sidoeftn hteI nsti.tI tu htaenhki mf oarc ritiinctaelr est
inm y works pannisnegv eryaela rs,
Iw asp rovidweidto hp portunointa i neusm,b eorf o ccasitoon s,
presepnatp erosn paorftI sl lrye searfcohrd iscuswsiitochno l­
leaguTehse.s eex changes exwterreem eenlryi chtihnegoy;p ened
newp erspectives andm ea wciqtudhai ifnfteeradep nptr oacIh es.
woulldi kteom entio(nic nh ronoloogridceamrly) l ectuartte hse
PontifIincsatli toufMt eed ievSatlu diiensT oront(oW altHe,r
Princiapned S tepheDnu montC)o,r neUlnli vers(iNtoyr man
Kretzmantnh)eU, n iversity Doafm eN( oMtarrDek. J ordant)h,e
UniverosfiL teyi de(nP rocSlyumsp osiiunmh onouorf L ambert
Maridee R ijkt)h,e C atholUinci versoifLt oyu vai(nC ardinal
MerciLeerc tures)Bo,s ttoChnoe l ioqioufPm h iloso(pShtye phen
x PRt:FACE
Brown)t.h eU niversoiftI yo wa (ScMaanc Donaldt)h,eU niversity
ofC ologn(eA lbeZritm mermann)t'h eU niversoift Ryo ehurn
(TheaK obuscha)n d theU niversoiftB yo nn (LudgeHro nne­ INTRODUCTION
felderO)n.e oft hem ost attraeclteimveen tosf thes tudoyf
medievpahli losopihsiy t isn ternatichoanraalc -teirnt hirse spect
The titlofet hibso oks peakosf " MedievPahli losopahnyd"" the
itr esembltehses cholacrolmym unitiyn t heM iddlAeg es.
TranscendentIatlc sa.n"h e reada sa ffirmitnhga tt heries a
1,1 994
SincFee bruary I haveh ad thper iviloefgs ee .n>iansg philosopihnty h eM iddlAeg esa ndt hatth ipsh ilosopehnyc om­
Directooftr h eT homasI nslitaUttl hee U niversoifCt oyl ognFer.o m
passeas d octrionfet hetr anscendenatlaolnsg simdaen yo thers.
the very oIu htasvee�t e,n ablte or el0y1 1t heu nremittaisnsgi st­
Buto ura imsi nt hiwso rka rem orea mbitioOuusr.t itmleea nst o
anceo fA ndreas SpTeheerf .i naplr eparatoifot nh isst udy owes
suggeas tm orei ntrinrseilca tiboent wee{nh et erm"sP hilosophy�
muchto thef aculatnyd g raduastteu denotfst heI nstitBuetern.d
andi .-anscendental!.sh"a nm erej uxt:JposiWtei owna.n tt o show
Roggenkamapn d MartiPnk kavef inaliztehde b ibliography.
thatp hilosopihnyt heM iddlAeg ese xpressietss elfa waasy of
MartiTnr aceiym provetdh eE nglisthe xwti thg reaptr ecisiIo n.
thoughwth ichc anb ec alle"dt ranscendeTnhtea plr.e"s enbto ok
woulde speciallilktyeo t h.mNki colSae ngerf,o rh erg reaetff orts
mayt herefobrees eena sa conlIibuttoti hoend iscussoifot nh e
in edittihnemg a nuscriapntd,W outeGro risw,h o madeth e final
questiownh:a ti sp hilosopihnty h e MidAdglees A? recenrte view
correctiaonndcs o mposetdh ei ndices.
ofl iteratoufrfeea r st ellienxga mploef t her elevanocfte h iqsu es­
Cratefauclk nowledgemoefnf ti nancsiuaplp orsth oulfdi nally
tion":U nmistakapbhliyl osophriecsaela racbho utth eM iddlAeg es
be madet ot heN etherlaOnrdgsa nizatfioorSn c ientiRfeisce arch
hasf alliennt ao c ris(i s. I.t.i se) v eni mpOSSitbolr ee acahg reement
(NWO),w hosem unificegnrta nmta de thew mpletioonf the
on the premisweh atp hilosopmheya nsi n[ heM iddlAeg es'."
Englisthr anslaotfit ohni sst udpyo ssible.a sFuobrs tantiaolf part
Ist herem ead ievpahli losopEhvye?r syt udeonftth e intellet:.lual
thet ranslatIic oonu,l odn cem orea ppeatlo D onalMdo non,w ho
histoorfyt hipse riokdn owsfr om personeaxlp erientchea tth e
hast ranslasteedv eroaflm y previosutsu diIe asm. grateftuohl i m
questiiosn nao rth eloriocnaelC. o nsidtelrl e woofBr okn aventure,
fort hilso ng-stancdoilnlga boration.
who hasb eenn amed" them ostm edievaorf a lmle dievpahli lo­
sopherIsn.12 9 9a2 G ermant ranslaotfih oinsQ!.l atstiodniessp utatae
ColognNeo,v embe1r9 95 JanA .A ertsen
De scienCthirai wsatsip ublishiend t hew ell-knoswenr ieosf
MeinerP'hs UosophBiisbclhhieeo kBt.o�n aventuhriem selIfb ,e lieve,
wouldh aveb eenl estsh anh appyt of inhdi sw orkp ublishienda
"PhilosophLiicbarla �r Iy.nh isH exaemehreo enl aboratheise ra­
archyof writinigns w hicht heS acreSdc riptuorcecsu ptyh e
highepslta cet;h eo riginwaolr kosf t hes ancalnidth e Senlence.s of
them agistlh"e n extp laceasn;d t heb ookosf t hep hilosoorsp ahgie s
oft hew orld the afnodul rotwhe pslta ceB.o4n aventudriedn ots ee
IA . Speera ndJ HJ. Schneide"rC,a sM iuelalitmer S piegenle uerer
Uteratuirn"T:, hwlogls che QJJanals1c72h( r19i9J2pt). 2, 3 5.
2 Cf.E .G ilsonT,h tP hiloosjOPS Ih.By o navmflmtr,a nsb!y F'. J .S heedN,e w
York1 965p,.4 !17.
l BonaventuVrOe,lf!Wi ;m!nC h1i(!QtuiQ tSdlii.s01lfJtuJdl ,llJ lCtjum Clhimal l),
ed.a ndt ransbly.A ndreaSsp eerH,a mburg1 992( PhilosophBiisbclhieo lhek
446) .
..B onayent,u Corlel atontJi inH tJCal!'lMf"OJl XIX.(6Op "a omnia V,p .4 21a):
.
.
"Slimc f'!{o qualliRoerne r&.!.e rip"lrnrclilrmcq.au a eo porloNr dmateex erccn.
2 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION 3
himsealsaf p hilosopahnedtr h,a itst ruoef m ostof t het hinkers 0.1M.e diepvhaill osaso p-hCyh rispthiilaons �o( pEGh.yi l s)o n
thafti guirneh istoorfim eesd ievpahli losoTphheyc .o ntemporary
historbiyac no,n traissnt o,ts om uchi ntereisntt ehdes cienotfi a A turnipnogi nitnt hem odersnt udoyfm edievpahli losowpahsy
Chriassti nt haotf m an.H e wilfiln d Bionn aventuwroer'bks a sic thew orokf E tienGniel s(o1n8 84-1I9nh7 u8n)d,r eodfps u blications
expositaiboonustt h iiss suseu.c ha sa boutth ep robleomft he hes pelloeudtt hep hilosopshiigcnailf iocfat nhecp ee rioIdt ,h ere­
foundatoifok nn owledagned t het hemeo fi lluminaTthieo n. fordee voattet enttoi hoincs o nceptfiiornWse t ar.c weliln formed
moderhni stormiaaybn e i nclitnoed de signsautceeh x positions abouGti lsodne'vse lopmseinntch,ee h imseglifv aensa ccouonfti t
Bonaventu"rpeh'isl osobpihldylo, e"hs e d o11 0 with groeoads on?5 inh iisn telleacuttuoabli ogrLaepp hhiysw,op heelt a t hiologie.'
Thep robleomfm edievpahli losoipsth hya itt osb jeicstt heo ut­ His1 91d3o ctotrhaels diesa wlit tfhr eedionmD escarItnes se,e k­
comeo fa hermeneutiinctaelr venotfai omno,d errne adianngd ingt hes ourcoefts h ef oundoefrM oderPnh ilosohpehm ya,d ea
interpreotfa titoetnxh taistn t heoiwrn r igwhetr e neivnetre nded discovtehrawyte natg aintshtep revaiplrienjgu daiccceo,r dtion g
asp urpeh ilosoprheiflceaclt ion, whjcLlthe rew erjeu stwto perioidnts h e hiostfpo hriyl osotphhey ,
Therhea veb eens trikdienvge lopmeanntdss h ifitnsr ecent ancieanntd t he modbeergni nnwiintgh DescTahrrtoeusgh.hi s
decadiensd iscussoifto hneso bjeocftm edievpahli losoapnhdy , historiincvaels tigiatbt eicoanmsde e atro G Hsotnh atth erwea sa n
thed ebaitses tiflaflrr oomv erI,nt6 h iisn troducchtaoprty1e w ra nt authenatnidco rigipnhaill osopthhiocuaglih ntt heM iddlAeg es.
firtsota nalytzher edei fferent taotn hsew erqsu esttihoenr ae " Is He elaborattheids inisnsi tguhdtio efT sh omisamn dt hep hiloso­
medievpahli losopthhyaa?tr" e( owre rei)m portfaontrth e place of phyo fB onaventGuirles.o nn'esw layc quirceedr taionftt yh e
theM iddle Aignet sh eh istoorfyp hilosopThhyi,sa nalysis ex:islt:nceo fa medie\-'pahli losohpohwye,v ewra,ss hakebny h is
afformdes a no pportP:fu ton ilake sotfot chkec urresnttu doyf critiTchse,yo bjectLlteadt t heren eiist hienrA quinanso ri n
medieval phi(l0o.s1o.p-hI0y w. i3lt.lh) e,en x plahionw I myself Bonavenrau dries tinpchtiilvoes oWphhayt,G ilshoand d ubbed
approatchhep erioidn,d icawthiantgi, nm y viewi,sc 'o nstitutive thepihri losophies wneorteh ibnruget" a tlrluyn ctahteedo logies.''fI
fotrh et hougohftt heM ediuAmev um( O.4T.h)ifis.n asle ctiwoinl l Gilsona'nss wecra mei nh isr enownebdo okT,h eS piriotf
clartihfeiY n tentoifto hni bso ok. MedairvaPlhi losooprhiyg,i ntahleGl iyf foLredc turoef1s 9 31-32.
Thiwso rokp enwsi tthh es tatem"eInwtto.: u lbde h artdo i magine
anye xpressmioornen aturaalplty otcoc utro t hem indo ft he
Primlii brsiu nts acraSee riplu(r. a.)e.. x eundil ibrsiU llotr iginaSlainae · historoifma end iaetvhaolu gthhta nC hrispthiialnpo hsyoH.e"r ew e
torumt;e rtS.eimic,m iamea g$itrroum; quartdio,a rillamruunmd iali8uimv e
encounttheere xpresstihaoeinp itomiGzielss ovni'esTw h.e riesa
philosophorum."
5 Cf.o n the problae Bmo noafv enturpihainl osopAh.yS :p eer",M eta· philosoipnh y tMhied dlAeg esb,u ti tosr iginaclaintnyob te
physircead ucenMse.t aphysaibk e: rste Wisse.inms Vcehnatfatn dnBiosn a­ ex:plaiwnietdh otuatk iinngt aoc coutnhtei nnuenecxee rcibsye d
YenUlraisn-�:, rkT hiolqgtHI(;ieurz nt pIm Miilmlf5 7( 199p0p).1, 4 2·149.
Christrieavne latHieo nd.e finCehsr istpihainl osoapsh� ye very
6 Seet hec OnlrihutoifoF ne:sr nanVda nS teenbergPhae:unl,V ignauaxn d
TulliGor egor1y0 t heS ymposiu�mL. cao m:eptidoe:n' "p hilosopahuiM C':o yen philosoWphhiyc ha.l though ketehpeti wnogo rderfsor mally
OIl
Age� theJ' lflIlnlt ernational Coonfgt rhce"u S ode.len tnnationpaoilel r
I'Etudde:e l aP hilosopMheidei eva(lMe:a-dri1d9, 72i)n,:. ...r dkVol C5 A l1Igr'tSO
Intn'llodceFlO inlaO$loM fediiae vMaald.r i1d9 79Cf.. W . KlulI:e"nD,i ege �chi!c­h 7 E. GilsoUn ,p hijlooph(I,l at hiolPoagriir1$, 9 6E0n;g lt.r ansTlh. t
lieherf orEscuhng derm ittelalte:rPlhiiclhoe:sno puhnided ieN ellscholaslik", PhilosoanpdhT ehre olNoegyw,Y ork1 962Hi.s b ibliogmipshto yh � foundi n
in:E .C oretWh.,M .N eidlG,.P fligersdor(fefdesr.C )h,..u rliPcJhiufl opohiiem Margaerl McGrathE,ti ntnt Gils..o..nB :i l>iwgrapBhiyb/lUinogmepT hour,o nLO
IratholDisnrlrhterksnn 19.u nd20 .J altrhunvrl.nUo,l2. : R uclrgri(f!lIu Ihfo /r.ulisr.htJ 198(2E tninee: GilsoSne ri3e�) F.o ra prs.eentaotni ofG ilsonl'isfa en dw ork:
ErbGrr,a z/Vitnna/Co1l9o8g8np.e. :\ 88:M Mani SnIi ehmte hrg am �iche:r, L.KS.h ookE,t itGinlsnone,T oronto 1984S.e eo nG ilsovni'esw Est imCn.weon tf
WiLl dgendic'hP hilosoipmh iMcitt elatler'bcd cutC':t, M R.I mOOch,M Lap hilo­ now: La phl�qphi� et .Ion his/atrt. tCoiloque' asclultrka llaif pin uitle' Etief!n(
IIOphit rnedlcyaleM,.. .Go inne: T'SDoctri n1tJ9 37R·i1t98rru7p.m tti f1roJfMdwi llt: Gilsoe:nd,.by M. Collralier,P ari1s9 80A.; d�Li berAM,U Se tudeds� p hiloso­
C'?lfUlili11t11.1. df/l hiloJtlotlp ahniK'l'fro' 1l plieJdt.b, y A .R obine:Pta,r i1s9 88, phiem cdicvaelne F rancde' ElienGniel soan n osj OllUi�n,: G liS tuddii
p.1 11":L ed �bI.ltII r 'objmee.tne de I'hilldoe:i ]rat'p hilosopmhe;dei cyale Filo$lJMjtidai rfmo aOut toNt;,l IItCtcdfl.bl yoR ,.I mbaeahn dA .M aierRlotm,e
1991,2 ·
tolctotm meI 'optllqeuiel'. lqlnlc lel IIc onyientdl're.tlutd eleelor b jN eslt oin pp.1 33.
d'61rrt1l ol,- II l�p hi/mtollpa th h'� olpo,1 g0i6�.,
4 IN'l't<ODUCTION INTRODUCTION 5
distinncetv,e rthelceos.n'1s idetrhse C hristiraenv elataisoa nn A morea dequateex amploef w hatG ilsomne ans aprhei lsoo­
indi�pensaaubxliel itaorr ye aso�n . phicarle flectiaobnosu tt heo rigionf r ealiitnys,p irbeyd t he
Gilsonl'esc turweesr ei ntendetdop rovid"ea ne xperimental Christiiadne ao fcr ealeixno i hi,lVoh.yi st herseo methirnagt her
demonstratoifot nh er ealiotfCy h ristipahni losopahnyd"t os ub­ thann othinignr ealitays?k�Ss i georf B rabanitn h isc ommemary
stantitahteet hestihsa mte dievpahli losopthrya nsforamnecdi ent on AristotMlet'tsa ypshicsHe.rUe w e findt her ooto ft heb asic
thoughutn dert hei mpulsoef C hristianHei tey1.<l borattehdi s questioofnm etaphysfiocrsm ulated by HMeairdteigng1 e3rT .he
thesiwsi thr espetctom etaphysiacnst,h ropolotghyet, h eoroyf medievarlesn ewepdh ilosophtihcoaulg htth:e inro tioonfsb eing,
knowledagen de thicTsh.e mostc rucitarla nsformaftoirGo inl son ofn ecessaintdy contingaenndco yf,c ausaldiitfyf ferro mt hosoef
isw hath e calltsh e� melaphysoifcE sx odus,t"h ati s·.a m eta­ Greekt houghTth.e MiddlAeg est herefomreer iat placwei thin
physiicnss pirbye dC OO's self-n�ve1l0aM loisoen.si nE xodu3s :14: the histooryf p hilosy-anoph d especiawliltyh itnh eh istoorfyt he
"1AM. WHO AM." (Ego sumqu isu m).I nE xodus. Gialfsfoinr ms. questioofbn e ing.
"thec orner-stoofnC eh ristian phitiosslo apihddy o"w n:t he YetG ils'o5n c onceptioofnm edievpahli losopahsyM Christian
identoitfby e inagn dG od.' 1"heirsbe u to neG od andt hiGso di s philosopphryo�v okecrdi tirceaalc tifornosm t heo utsebte,c ausiet
Beingt,h aits t hec orner-stoofn eaC lhlr istipahni losopahnyd,i t wass t:ena sa threattot he autonoofmp yh ilosopThhye. s harpest
was nPolta tiot,w asn ote venA ristotiltwe a,sM osesw ho put iint oppositicoanm ef romL ouvaiinn,t hep ersoonf F ernanVda n
positi'"oJn(.) SteenberghHeen a.c knowledtgheasCt h ristiahnaisti yn fluenced
TheS piriisat fascinatwionrgki nw hichG ilsohna ss hown philosopbhutyd enietsh at thaerreCe h ristpihainl osophfioer"s a,
convincintghlaypt h ilosophtihcoaulg hcta meo uto fl heM iddle philosowpohuyl dc eastt:o b ep hilosopthoty h ev ereyx tentth aitt
Agesd iffertehnatn i th ade nteretdh ema,n dt haitt tsr ansforma­ becameC hrist�i1aI4nt . niost m y intenttioop nr esean st ystematic
tiowasn influenbceyCd h ristiaMnoirteyt. h ani nG ilsont'ism e, analysoifst hep ossibiofl" iCthyr istpiahni losopIh wya.n"tt o
contemporaprhyi losopihscy o gnizaonftt hef actth aatl lt heo­ formulatwtoe o bjectitoocn esr taeilne menitnsC ilsonc'osn ception
retictahlo ughitsf edb yp re-refleecxtpievrei en1cnet .h e Middle thahta veb eena hindranrcaet hetrh ana helpt ou nderstanding
Ages,t heC hristifaani twha st heh orizoonf t hiesx perience. then aturoef m edievpahli losophy.
Withitnh is horqiuzeosnt,i ownesr ef ormulattehda atr en ott ob e (1M)y firosbtj ectiiosn ao hfi storincaatulr Iet.i si mportatnot
foundi na similfaorr mi nG reekp hilosopIhtyi .sq uestionable, recaLlhla tth en otioonf " Christpihainl osophhays�o riginailnl y
however, whtehteh" emre taphysoifEc xso dusi"sa goode xample Gilsoan h istocrhiacraalc tHeer a.r rivaetdt hiisd eaa,sw e saw. on
oft he" Christiiannn"o vatiionpn h ilosophtihcoaulg hItt.s eems Lheb asiosfh iss tudoyf t heh istoorfyp hilosopHhey d.e scritbhees
rathetroc onstitaunte ex amploef L hei nfluenocfpe h ilosopohny notioonf C hristipahni losophhiym sealsf" thec onceptutarla ns­
ther eadinofgS criptuSreev.e rsaclh olahrasv ee mphasiztehda tth e latioofna no bservahbilset oroibcjaelHc lr.t .
texotf E xoduwass interpretwietdh ithne framewoorfkN eoplatonic
philosopWheyr.n erB eierwalhtaesrs e marketdh at" thes o-called 12S igotfBr r abanQtu.a rsCiOfltJ ilIVl MffllP(Ac.Wd ..D unphl.y.ovau,in -Ia.
metaphysoifcE sx odusi s tmhoes tu nsuitabsulbej ec(.t .) . f or Neuve1 98p1p,1. 6 9-1"7se0in) i:qmu a traqwura rce �mta g�ai liqiunrie dru m
natura qunaimh ilcWr.. S./1h,.4 4.2
ThomaAsq uinas. (foarna naloyfst ihsi 5
wantintgod emonstraa gteen uin'eC hristpihainl oso'p'h1'y1 .
texsetese, ct �.. 8.).
1.'1 Wtgmarktn.
M.H eideg"gWearis.s Mt e taphyisni:k r". Frankafmu rt
Mai1n9 6p7.1, 9 ":d iGe rufnrdadgeerM etaphysi(.k J.:.W aruims iti berhaupl
II E.G illoLn ',, jdprieti aP hi/oJopmtdhiii,v aPka,ri s1 96E9n;gl t.r anTshtl . Seeinduensd n!chvlei lmeNhirc ?h"t s
4
S/1i.roiftM tdianlPahli losNopthwY"o rk1 94(0r eNport.Dr aem e1 991p)., � 7. 1 F.V an SteenberghIennt,r oduIict iI'oint udde,/ ap hilDlopmhUiiei Tiok.
10 Tlusp iroiftM rdiOlllal PhilcJoppp.h5 ,16., �c .r .I fltrodu.dkIim pLah .ifomphit Louvain/P1ar9i"sp, p 7.8 -113.
a\'*UIIM,P ari. 1960. pp.' 51l. 15 E.O ihon," Lan Oliodne philoscohprhetiiee nnien":B, l llirl.id"" l a
II
In,: IIi/O'¥AUw Rs,.tdsdilu 16( 1%9p)., n1 h9i9sr eviioewfK. KTemer, Sociilfria "�alaJ,tp hiuJJoPpahri1it9,s 3p1..7 "2e:eq ue jceh erchdea nl$a
lIN r�w Si n1\(''', hs.. 'lAUw. Wirhng auf T"'-aJ vorl Aquin, �iden notionde philosopchrhici liec'nenusente .t raductcioonnc eLUdlep dec eq ue
.."N..« 'IMIr e"d.I H1)Th,lt boo ,...d lrecl..c adl nlGti lsonm'e.t aphysiofc.5 jec roiuln objehti ltoriqueombesnetrv abtlea:p hilo$opdhaincs s onh al
Iud .... C.. up.cllJ typ .X XVIII). chri:lien."
6
INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION 7
Now thet irtshti nwge C<lne stabliists hha tth en otioonf " Chris­
belongitnogt hed omaionf t hef mitteh.e c reateNdi.c holoafsC usa
itianp hilosopihnyG "i lsons'esn sies u nknowni nt heM iddle 'arguiensh isD ed octiag noratnhatti a!.h ere isn o arpeparlolpyr iate
.A gesT.h e expressioocnc urbsu t belotnogt sh et erminolob'1' of
namef orG od.N evertheloensecs a,n c laitmh aGto d'mso stp roper
16
,monastci spirituThalei tmyo.n k thies tr uep hiJosOPhc:huriss tianus. name is" Unitya,n"d Nicholaasp pealtso Deuteronom6y: 4
[n Kholastaiuct horwse instefaidn da no ppositiAolnb.e rtth e
("Hea0r, I sraetlh:eL ordo urG od iso nc").D2fli fferenstp iritual
Greaatn dT homasA quinacso nu-atshtep hilosopthoti h es andoir
experienocfet sh ese autwhiolrctse rtaihnalvye p layead r olien
tiuorogi;D unsS cotussp eakosft he" comroverbseyt"w eepnh iloso­ thidsi versoiftv yi ewUsl.t imatehloyw.e vetrh,e idri versdietryi ves
pherasn dt heologia.ns. Thep hilosaorpeth hiep ag-.m thinkewrhso
fromd ifferent metacpOhlylsviiccatlTi hoantsD .i onysirue!g ards
endeavotrou nderstamnadn andt hew orlde xclusitvherloyu gh
Goodnesasst hep rimarnya meo fG odi sa resulTth.o mash imself
reasotnh;e s anealreit heC hristitahni nkewrhso <l res upportiend remarkosf,h ish avinfgo llowtehdev iPal atonica.'!l
theirre flectbiyot nh e liogfhf ta it1h7". Accorditnogt hep hiloso­
The cruciqaule stibOenc omehso w thidsi versaimtoyn gt he
phersT,h"o masA quinahso ldst,h eu ltimapteer fectoifom na n is theoliosag cic ountfeodr i n Gilsonc'osn ceptioofn" Christian
that hhaes i nsigihntt toh eo rdeorf t heu niverse iatcnsad u ses; philoso�ph Iyn.i tsehlifs,d efinitoifo� nC hristpihainl osopihny "
"
"accorditonu gs thiesn dw ouldb et hev isioofnC odY'T he�w e­ TheS piralilto wfso ra pluraloifts yu chp hilosophIinet sh.ei mpor­
communitoyf"b elieviesro sp posetdo t hep hilosophtircaadli tion.
tantt hircdh aptedre alinwgi tht hem etaphysoifcE sx odush,e
1990
Inh isE tienne Gilson oLfe ctuMraer kD .J ordaonb servWeIs :
showst hatth inkearssd iverasseA ugustinAen,s elmo fC anter­
cannofitn dt hatlh ee pithpehti losiopseh vuesar p plibeydT homast o
bury,T homasA quinaasn dD uns Scotus taocgkentohwelre dtghee
a ChristiaTnh.i"sdI o!!e sn otm eant haGti lsonn'ost ioinsw ithout
identiotfyb einga ndG od.Y el iistc leafrr omt hed iversjiutsyt
historivcaallu ef.o rt het heologicarni'tsi coifsp mh ilosophiesr s
noteadm ongstth et heologitahnastt h em etaphysoifcE sx odust,h e
usualblays eodn r ationaarlg umentatTihoeny.o pposteh e" errors" cornerstoofnC eh ristiapnh Hosophwya,s n ott hec ommunoipsi nio.
oft hep hilostaphhaiits, w, i tthh eh elpof p hilosophy itself. InT heS piriGlil sosna ylsi ttalbeo utt hiqsu estioHne. o pposes
We alsnoo tet hei ntrigufianctgth aatm ongt het heotkhJegriies a
"Greetkh oughtw,h�i ch (iiun P latonviecr sioanff)i rmetdh e
greadti versoiftv yi ewsA.n illustraotfi tohni s riastc hte w ide
primacoyf tChoeo d and stuhbeo rdinattoii oton f " existentoc e,"
rangeo fo piniocno ncernitnhge p rimarnya me of the first
"Christtihaonu ght," uwnhdiecrht hei nfluenocfte h eE xodutse xt
principFlreo.m w hatf olloiwtws i lble comecl ear thatth iiss suies
atlil"med thep rimacoyf beianngdt hes ubordinaotifot nhe Go od to
crucifaolra ssessGiinlgs onc'osn ceptiFoonrp. s eudo-Diontyhsei us
itM.e dievatlh inkeurpsh eld" theC hristiparni macoyf b eing"
AreopagiitneD ed ivinnoimri niGbuoso,di st hep rimarnya meo f againstp seudo-Dion2y2s ius.
God,w hilfeo rT homasb,y c ontraistti ,sB eing( Es£eB)u.t ,i nh is
Gilsoni'nst erpilrleiloanc tually places thDeiA orneyospiaugsi te
firsPta risiqaune stiMoeni,s tEecrk harotb servierso nicatlhlatyth e
outside trtahdei toifoC nh ristian thBouuttg hhaLst e ems osdidn,c e
EvangelJioshtn d oesn ots ay":I nt heb eginniwnags b eing( ens)"
Dionysiuwsr'ist insgtsr ongilnyf luencLeadt int heologiaIn s.
butr athe"ri nt heb eginniwnags t heW ord."" Beingi"ss eena s
suggethsatt w e alloaw dissemmiendgi evva.oli cteo b eh eardt,h at
ofB onaventuirneh isJ ti,�e.TO.an r hiiusv mie wth,e divincea nb e
16 cr.H .M.S chmiding"eZrl,I Gre schichdtees B rgrif'fcsh rinllche
19.
Phiolsohpi"e',i n:C hri�tlPihrihleo sopihmi kea tlwli.JeDh,,nnk rnd el und2 0. 20D ionysituh5eA reopaghDee,d ivinni(�> milieil/ml2J. , 1,c3h1.4; . l5�;e h.
jahrhundmvoJl. I ,G r:u/Vienna/Col1o9gn8r7p ,p. 2 9·45. :
13.3,T4h5o2m;a sA quinaSs.. t11h..3.1 1M;ei SlEecrk hart.Q uarJtw i'arIm mm
!7 M.-OC.h enu�.L es' philosopdhaenssl' a p hilosopchhiree tienmnec­
n.4 (LattiniWJaCkMt V ,4 07.·9 ):N il.hoolfaC �u saD,r doc/iag noranIt,ci .a2 4.
dievalc.i n&:u ued �s5 cimcft<!Sh ilosophieqtIu h,eso logi2qu6(t J1 93p7p).2, 7 ·40.
" n.7 4-7(7� dP..W ilpcrDti.e/; elehUrrll�wi ssmhHeialmlb,u rg1 970p,p. 9 69-9).
I�T homas Aquinas.D tv ml.2 .2":un dhra ece st ultpiert'meac tiado quam 21T homa!A quinDaesf .M lo1 .2':P laton(.i c.)i .d i cebaqnuto db onuma d
animap otepne rvenirsee cundupmh ilosopuhtoi snc ad eM:ribtaottuuosrr do plur$a� exu:ndqiuta me n�E.t h anc uiamu idelsUerq utDmi oni5iinml ibra
IIniveertcs ail lsareuiml lisnq, u oe liafml neImI ltimhuomm inipso suerunl,
De diuinnio!m inibubso.n ump reordineanntli .w
quoHId l ecundunmO Ie rtii nv isioDneei ". �� L'tjpdnetl ap hiwwphWlitd,i ilJpa.l5" 5 �:e al.so �.• 5 1,n..l.I a �d p.5�.n t.
M.n.J ordllnTIl.t AlltgAtridJ toltlioafnT ihJomm aAJq umaJT.o ront1o9 92
2.C f.P .A ul:w:nq�uEel,i enGniel iOentl aq uesildoel1 le tr.eIl l:E tltnn, Glb011
(ThF.etl r.nne Gllwls.:IrIl e1�5 )I,I6 .. ,1n mu:liJ philn.wf!thJlJfIli , hUlofTr.r :.l.riI,! JH1l1.1H 1I-l.l .!l.
8 INTRODUCTION lNTRODUCTION
9
comcmplaItnte wdow aysO.n em odel oopksr imatroib leyi ng begiwnist thh ec onsideorfaG toidao nnd t hedne scetnodh si s
itself esSt)c,l aimtihna"gtH ew hoi s"t hiefs i rdsitv ine effeccrte:a treeda lSiutcyih.sG ilsopnr'ess entoaft iTohno mas's
(ipsum
namet;h iisst hOel d Testvaime(ewEn xto d.Tu hse)o thmeor de philosionph hiys bLoeoT hko misHmiesp. oionftd epartaurree
lootkosg oodnceaslsl,ii ttn hgfe i rdsitv innaem et;h aitst hNee w Thomapsr'oso ffosGr o d'exsi stiennq c.2e o ft hfei rpsatro tf the
Testamveineftwo ,or u Tre ach(emra gister nos)t,Ce rhriasttt,r ibutes Summat ht!oglioaGei.l siosan w arteh aitnd oinsogh e ciosn traven­
(hinsa met oG ode xclus(iLvuekl1ey8 : 1D9)i.o nystihuesr efore intgh ep hilosooprhdiecwrah,li cahs centdhsr oucgrahet urteos
follCohwls" aicscto,r dtoiB nogn avteunrweh.e hne p ositGso otdh e thek nowleodfGg eo da ndi nw hicphr ooffosGr od'esx istence
ast he prniammaer.y! � stantdh uastt hee ndn,o ta tt heb eginnHiinsag r.gm uenfto r
InG ilns'owso rktsh eirsaem anifteesnts bieotnw etehnie d eoaf follonwoitntgh p eh ilosobpuhttih ceta hle oloogridceiarslt h at
"Chrispthiialno soapnhdhy i's"t orreiaclaTilht eyt .e nsairoins es philosiossp uhbys umweidt htihne olPohgiyl.o sorpehfilceaclt ion
from ftahcteth atth eo rigihniaslltyon roitciaolof n" Christian haasn i nstrumfeunncttaifloo tnrh sea crdao ctrainndta h e oorfd er
philosohpahsay c"q uiar neodr matciovnet eanntdi st herefore sciemnucselt h rc:a:l sboei tso rder.�'"
this erefu
unabtloe jduos ttiotc hepe l urifoorfmm eidtiye pvhaill osIonp hy. Thea ttachomfep nhitl ostootp hheyo liosgg iyv eevne grr ealer
thipsh ilos"oBpehiyn gn"o tci osn sidtehreoe ndl lye gitimate emphaisniG si lsolna'tser (wOonrieksr s e minodfet dh tei tolfe
possifboinrla imtiytn hgfe i rpsrti ncipolneef, i ncdrsi tiocfi sm hiasu tobiog'rTahpPehh yi,l osaonphdTe hre olo.g yCA"h )ristian
but
onto-thaesow leolgly. philosdoepthayc fhreodtm h eoliosag n yo n-exiesnttiiTnthgye .r e
Iti sf otr hirse as1ob ne,l ietvheaG,ti lsosnuc'cse isnsPo arr is, iss omethoifan pga radotx.h eei vno luotfih oints h ougIhhte:
PaulV ignaiunxt,r odaud ciefdf enroetnitIo nan n.a ddrMeOslstl h e notion" Choirfs tpihainl osowphhiycw,ha" so rigiinanltleyn ded
plaocfet hMei ddAlgee isnt hhei stoofpr hyi losohpeph ryo"p oses toc harearcittzhee" spiorfim te"d iepvhaill oshoapishn yc,r easing­
thamte dietvhaolu bgeh atp proaacsba e" dp hiloosfor pehlyi gion." lyb ecomaene xpresosfti boienn strumfeunntcatolif o np hiloso­
Sucah philosowphhiych,ha sa si tosb je"chti storgiicvaelnl y phyi nt hsee rvoifcC eh ristthieaonl oWgoyl.f!g6aK nlgu xen has
religiaonnasl,yt sheeas r gumeonftt sh em edietvhaelo logians righotblsye rtvheatdth ceo nsequoeftn hciiesn terpriestt ahtaito n
n
withaonuyotb ligattoi oandt ohpevtii re wIsnc. o ntrtaoGs itl son's philosuolpthiym adtieslayp pferaorTmsh omis(ma nwdi,t thh at,
concepotfCi horni spthiialno stohpaihpsyp ,r odaocehns o itm pal y Thomifsrmo pmh iloys)o.p2h'
"committmheanittsu llJh'ial-opso"ip4hV iicganla.uo xr'ise ntation Itc annbeo td enitehdaT th omawso'rsik s t horoutghheloyl ogi­
of meditehvoaulgh hatsh ,o wevaenri ,m portdainsta dvaInfta ge. calin n aturYee.th ist heolosgyinctahlce osnitsa cienrst ain
onea ccehpitpssr opotshaolu,gi hntt h Mei ddAlgee asc quiarne s undenipahbillyo soapchciocuanlt lse.g iIttit moeia xstt er tahcets e
exceptipoonsailti into hneh istorpyh iloof sBoepthwye.e n the accounfortms theo vercahrintgh eologsiycnatlh esis, .�ince
anciaenndtm oderpne ritohdesr e iinst earnmd euzrziown hgi ch Thomaisnt, h fei rqsute stoifto hnSe u mma( which prtehec eeds
philosoapchtyu a"ilpslh yi loosfor pehliyio gn." prooffosGr od'exsi nscteea)s,c riibnedse pendteopn hciel osophy
(2)M y secoonbdj ecatgioaniG nisslto nn'ost ioof"n C hristian hotihn m ethod ianpn rdi ncMiypml aei.on jb ectioGni ltsoo n's
philosiopsh ayop "fh ilosonpahtuircFeao.lrG ilsaoc no nsequence
ofth is noitsti hoantt h eh istomruisaetnx plmaeidni epvhaill o­
25 E.G ilwnu. Thomumei.'l lrrodudlIiO ['Iapl h iloJoj>dheiS ea inTth amadJ' A'1usn,
sophiynk eepiwnigth tthheeo loogridceatrlh ,ai ts , otrhdoeefr t he Paris1 965( 6tehd .)p.,4 9C.f. TholllSae!!G,.I VI,:" n;\lurraaltiip5oe r crealuras
sacrdao c/Titnhaet, h eoloofgC yh risrteivlaeant iTohni.os r der in Decoig nitionem ascendfiitd,e vle roc ognitai oDe o in noc sc onver�()
divinrae velat.:i:do .:n:sc.::nGdilisto�fn.o l lowtsh es ameo rderi n hbioso ko n
DunsS cotus (jttJnDu ns Srot.i 'ltrodvdiGIin , wps ruitiof01ns1d am.mlo[P�a ri1s9 52).
23 Bonaventuriesn.,.-art,i umV,(2ope ra OfIIlliaVp,.3 0gb)M:D ionyssieuqsu ens by beginnIwnitgh theu istencofe( hei nfinbieLCi ng.
Christumd iciqtu,o d bonuems tp rimumn omen.- 26 Cf. J.rW.i ppe"lTh,o mas Aquiannads The Problemo f Christian
24 P.V ginaUll.M Surla placde u Moyen Ag.:: .::n hisloidr.:e:la philoopshie�. Philo50phiy-n.:M elaph,Jical TluliMsll Thoma.! AquillaWs;u;.h ington.D .C.
Bulkfillt U
in: i6 Soaitif roll{6die'P w" ilowp"6�8 (19H)p.p .5 -17c.r .i d. . 1984p,p .1 ·�3.
1964
"C.ontribuatui soynm posiu'mLa conceptidoen J ap hllosopahui Meo yenA ge·. 17 W. KIU)lenP,h ilosoplEelihJie11Mlch tT homas1 101A1q uilMla.im . (2nd
pp.81-85. ed.H amburg1 980)p.,X VIII.
11
10 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION
presentatoifoT nh omas'tsh oughits t hait tf ailtso o ffeirn sigihntt o ISc ontroverstioadla yb,e causei li sc ommonlyu nderstooidn a
theo rderp roperto p hilosopThhye. interpre'tste arski sp recisetloy normativwea y.t hati sa,s assumian dgi reccto nnectiobent ween
underHanTdh omas'tsh oughflr omt hiosr dert,h aits a,s p hilosophy. faitha nd reason.T:?h'}e termi sh ere usiend a n historisceanls e;
Iw ilrle turtno t hipso initn s ectio0n. 4. medieval !.hoiusg shact i encoef "thes choolsw,h"i chp rinc.ipally
consisitnst he read-ianngd interpretaotfil oCXnl S. Philosopihny
the MiddleA ges isf ound in commemary on authoirtative
0.2.
"Tiu linguistitumc" writins-g-indeedt.h ep eriosda w thed evelompento fa disitnctive
genreo f commentary,t hato f thqeu a,jBte;coau.s es ciencaen d
The studyo f medievaplh ilosophhya sd eepeneda nd widened philosopwheyr eb oundt o texttsh,e s tudenotf t hem edieval univer­
sincteh ep ublicatioofn Gsi lsonw'osr ksN.o to nlyh avem any texts sitrye ceived thortoruagihn iinngl hed isciplionfet sh et rivituhem ,
beene ditefdO T!.h e firstti meb,u ta lso naepwp roachaensd t hematic QrteJJe rmocinWiatlhei5nt .h e facultoyf artsa,n evemro re
emphasesh ave been putf orwardT.h isl eadso ne to wonder sophisticated conacpeppatruaatluw sa sd evelopefdo rt hea nalysis
whetherm edievaplh ilosophoyu ghtt ob e soughti n dai ffreent oft he" propertoifet se rms"-thaitst ,h ee ffecotf a word'ssy ntactic
directiforno m theo nes uggestebdy GilsonI.si tn otm ore readily contexotn itss emantifcun ction-andf ort hei nterpretatoifo n
found in theS ummaleo gilhcaane i n theS ummaleh eoloTgihaee ? sentenceIst.i. s o n accoumo ft he" Scholastcihca"r actoefrm edieval
secondc onceptitohna th asb eeni mportanfotr o rientatiino n the philosopthhya tl ogiacn d semantipclsa ys ucha cruciraoll ei ni t.
studyo f medievaplh ilosophrye presenat sr adicarle versaolf An importanetf fecotf thleo gical-analayptpircoaalc hi st hat
Cilson'isti; s m arked,o ne mights ay,b y �thee xoduso f meta­ medievaplh ilosopihsyn oto nlyg rantead place tihne h istory of
physicsL.o"g ic,s emanticasn d the philosophoyf language thoughbtu t ise venr ecognized haavsi nga topicarle levanscoe .
becomel hen ew centerosfa ttention. Currendti scussioofn mse aninga nd reefrenceh avea parallienl
Thisr eversiasli ntimatecloyn nectewdi tht he" linguisttuircn " thed istinctmiaodne inm edievatle rminilsotg ibce tweens ig;nicfat­
inc ontemporapryh ilosophTyh.e analytaipcp roactho p hilosophy tiaon d 5upprutihtes ieum;an tiocfs p osisblweo rldhsa sr ediscovered
in the Anglo-Sawxoornl dh as stimulataed n ew, not merely them odall ogiocf t hef ourteenctehn tury; tahnedp ropositional
historiicnatle reisnt m edievatexllS , sincsei milaprr eoccupations analysoifsl ogicapla radoxehsa sa n equivaleinnt t hem edieval
and approaches hbaeveen d iscoveriendth em. AnthonyK enny, literataubroe utr ophi.smataIn.a recenets sayS tenE bbest:nd t:scribt:d
fore xamplew,r itesi n hiss tudy of Wytdhiaft� th�s cholarasn d hisown way of doingp hilosop:1.h'1 y" 'thseo phismatwayic This
."
sludemso ft l1feo urtcenth.c enturwye red iscussipnrgo blemasn d way of philooliphizinhge, arguesg,i ves" a greatp ossibiloift y
usingm ethodsw hicha rec urrenatm ong Oxfordp hilmophers mutual understanbdeicnagu,s"fe o rl ogicparlo blemlsi kteh eL iar­
today.I"n't hef ourteenta.h� i nt het wentietche nturpyh,i losophers paradoxt,h et .:ulturdailff erencebse tweent hef ourteentahn d
devotegdr eaatt tentitoon " thew ay inw hicht ermsh avem eaning, twentiectehn turiaerseo fl ittilmep ort.anc.e�!
thew ay in whichs entenceasr c putto gethetrh,e w ay inw hich The codificatoifo tnh is� newm edievaslmi" isT heC ambridge
1982
human beingsd o thingwsi thw ords( . .). L ikeW yclifpsh iloso­ HistoofrL ya tMeerd if!fPJh(iJl1f> jwohpihcyha, p peareidn under
phy.O xfordp hilosopihsyl inguispthiicl.o sop"h2y�. thee ditorshoifp NK.r eZlmann,A . Kennya ndJ .P inborg.M·o�s2t
Thisa pproacihs n otu nfoundedJ.u st Gaisl sonc'osn ceptihoans
itsb asiisn medievaplh ilosophcyo'nsc ernwi th tchoe ntentosf
29 Seef ora discussion ofl hinso tioRn.S chonbergWeasr is, lS cholclJtiH,
Christiraenv elatisoon t,h ej ustIiCfatioofnt hel ogical-analaypt­ical Hildeshdm 1991.
proachl ieisn a nothecrh aracterieslteimce notf medievalhlo ught. �) A.d e UberaPmJ,n- au MO')en Itgt', Pari19s9 1p,p .68- 72":L 'actuadlui ti
MoyenA gee tI e' nouvemaiud iis"mie'"
namelyi,t .·<;· Scholascthiacr"a cteTrh.e expressi"oSnc holasticism"
�Is .Jo: b�5en, -DOinPhgi losopthhyeS ophi,mWaatyi"c.i, n G:l iS tuddii
Pilo..lMO,fdiai roafkm DlltoN ovtcrntoR,o me1 991p,p 3. 31-3p5.39 3;4 .
u 'l"hI: Ca:",bridlH{itd ory0 1 LAlITM tdit'l.!aPlA ilowpAJF.r om tAtR tdi.s,ovonfy
�HA .!k llnyW,y diJ.O llfor1d9 8!)p,. 5. Amloll1,0 IIIIh,J inltj(1aloifo Snt J!olaJlifdH1rI{)O .1600r,n . KNr.r mtaznn/A.