Scholasticism: Personalities & Problems Medieval Philosophy

by Josef Pieper, Clara Winston (Translator), The Letters of Martin Buber Richard Winston (Translator)

Personalities and Problems of Medieval Philosophy [Apr 01, 200...

Genres: Philosophy, History, Medieval, Religion, Theology, Nonfiction, Christianity

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

Josef Pieper was a German Catholic philosopher and an important figure in the resurgence of interest in the thought of Thomas Aquinas in early-to-mid 20th-century philosophy. Among his most notable works are The Four Cardinal Virtues: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance; Leisure, the Basis of Culture; and Guide to Thomas Aquinas (published in England as Introduction to Thomas Aquinas).

Reviews

[Armando Maese Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to medieval Christian personalities, woven together in a lecture-narrative style. Pieper covers major thinkers from Cassiodorus and Boethius to Duns Scotus and William of Ockham. In doing so, he relies heavily on the work of Étienne Gilson.

The main idea is that medieval Christian philosophy and theology were characterized by a conjunction of fides and ratio. The relation between each was often tenuous, and various thinkers leaned more one way or the other, but the synthesis held until the reintegration of Aristotelian thought in the West. The turning point was the condemnation of 1277, against the hardline Aristotelians at the University of Paris, after which voluntarism and empiricism gained more traction and philosophy became increasingly separate from theology. Assimilation of knowledge, most notably under St. Thomas, gave way to fragmentation and the separation of fides and ratio.

I enjoyed this book, although I have some reservations about Gilson's thought. I do think Pieper was a bit down on Anselm, and the information overall could have been better organized and more systematically presented, but I'd recommend this book to anyone curious about the medieval roots of Christian philosophy.

[Diego Estrada · Rating 3 out of 5]

No me gustó... lo leí para una clase. Es un contexto de la filosofía en el tiempo medieval: desde Anselm a despuesito de Aquinas. Lean otras cosas de Pieper... LEISURE THE BASIS OF CULTURE ES EL BUENO. SALU2

[Daniel Rainer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I'm interested in Duns Scotus, a forebearer to some of my favorite thinkers (Henri Bergson, Gilles Deleuze), and because I realized that I knew almost nothing about the 1200 years of thought between Augustine and Descartes. "Medieval philosophy" conjured up the images of dour, cloistered, joyless monks ratiocinating about irrelevant theological problems. My only consolation was that this book was short, and that I wouldn't have to spend any more time than was absolutely necessary with these grey medieval minds.

However, all my misconceptions were utterly disabused by this excellent introduction. The group of scholastic thinkers presented are just as diverse, vociferous, and utterly singular as the classical philosophers of Diogenes Laërtius or the French post-structuralists. There is an breath-taking amount of human drama and pathos in the stories of Boethius and Cassiodorus, in the romance of Abelard and Héloïse, and in the mystery of Pseudo-Dionysus the Areopagite. The philosophical content is likewise clearly presented and easy to follow. The historical flow and development of ideas, the eventual disintegration of the scholastic aim (the synthesis of faith and reason), and the continuing relevancy of medieval thought are masterfully and succinctly explained to the modern reader.

The author, Josef Pieper, is a Catholic and Thomist (I am neither). His personal opinions and interpretations arise often, especially during the conclusion. Despite my fundamental disagreements with many of his assessments and ideas, his lucidity and intellectual honesty are endearing to say the least. I especially adore the quote he chooses to end his book with; it displays the sagacity and joy proper to a true philosoph.

"Mysticism is... the only power which is capable of uniting in a synthesis the riches accumulated by other forms of human activity. -Pierre Teilhard de Chardin"

[Ian Clary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent survey of key philosophers of the Middle Ages, from Boethius to Ockham, and some of the major philosophical problems that marked the time, with a particular emphasis on the relationship between faith and reason. Joseph Pieper was one of the great popularisers of Thomism in the twentieth century, though he writes in a much more enjoyable style than someone like Etienne Gilson (who is an important source for Pieper's book). Though a Thomist, he doesn't make Thomas the defining figure of the period, even if he may be the most important. Nevertheless, some of the major thinkers of the period, who made significant contributions to philosophy, receive a critical interpretation from a more Thomist perspective. For instance, Pieper helpfully works through the over-emphasis on ratio in the thought of Anselm, especially his so-called "ontological proof" for the existence of God. I also found Pieper's survey of Duns Scotus to be particularly balanced and helpful.
I'm sure that there are elements of Pieper's interpretation that have become outdated since the book was first published in 1960, but the overall argument seems to be to be sound. That a truly Christian philosophy (that is, one articulated within the context of medieval Christendom) properly conjoins faith and reason and provides a coherent view of the world. This philosophy must be done in subservient relation to the task of theology. Philosophy must be in the service of theology.

[Adam Carnehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pieper's book is a terrific introduction to the personalities and problems of medieval scholastic thought, from Boethius in the sixth century to Ockham in the fourteenth century, now somewhat long-in-the-tooth, though still accessible, clear, and helpful.

Piper uses the tension between ratio and fide throughout the book as a helpful organizational pattern. Though we see from Boethius to Thomas a conjunction of faith and reason, it's with Duns Scotus and then especially Ockham that the two become separated, disjointed, and relegated to separate spheres of activity. The question is, what is the status of reason? For what reason did God create it? Can faith seek understanding (in an Anselmian sense) or must it remain 'alone' (in a fideistic sense)?

Interestingly, Piper advances something very much like a "Benedict Option" in the final chapter of the book where he suggests that modern (circa 1960s) churches and monasteries should teach the Latin and Greek classics and preserve myths, poems, and world literature because of the onset of an age of barbarism (which he predicted and Michel Henry confirmed in his excellent 1987 book, "Barbarism").

[Scott Bielinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure what I expected when I picked up this slim volume on this not-so-slim topic. It's impressive, however, how much Pieper manages to discuss (around 900 years of theological/philosophical history) in such a short book. Better yet is his impressively clear and economical treatments of the relevant theologians and their work. Though criticism is warranted for his often too brief treaments of some (especially Ockham and Scotus), Pieper really does a great job delineating some of the important contributions/reception of men like Boethius, Pseudo-Dionysius, etc. This short read works as a great (sympathetic) introduction into the theological project of the medieval era.

[Lucinda Kinsinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informational and useful for my current medieval reading list. Not particularly interesting unless you love history (I like stories better). But for a student of medieval times, definitely a worthwhile read. One great feature is its nuanced discussion of the middle ages...too often history books lump medieval times and authors into one generic lump of non-enlightenment. This book shows the value and contributions of scholars from those times.

[Thomas Bochenski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't buy this if you wish to learn about the Scholastic axioms or principles, the Thomistic Theses, or whatever other technicalities. However, it's a really good overview of Scholastic personalities leading up to the Enlightenment, and it gave me some new authors to read.

[Benjamin Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to Scholastic thought and thinkers. Would recommend to those interested in this period of intellectual development.

[Páidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating well rounded book. Kids of interesting ideas and people to follow up.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had read this back in college, to supplement my lack of understanding of the medieval history of ideas course I tackled. Based on lectures, Prof. Pieper's delivery of recondite ideas and arcane personae remains surprisingly accessible. I returned to it recently, decades on, to reread as a refresher before tackling Etienne Gilson's Spirit of Medieval Philosophy (also reviewed by me). I needed it!

The personalities take up as much room as the problems, and this helps to invigorate the text. Pieper has a knack for making the issues matter for us, perhaps a millennia on give or take. He complements this with Guide to Thomas Aquinas, both published in English around the start of the 1960s. Interestingly, the impact of Vatican II can be sensed, and the closing pages of Scholasticism nod approvingly to the likes of De Lubac and Teilhard, as Pieper tries to direct the conclusion towards a congenial extension of the yearning of the medieval predecessors.

In his later career, although Pieper's known for Thomism early on, he roamed further into the progressive and spiritualizing camp. For me, I liked the primer in the thought of the Middle Ages, and it deserves to tbe kept in print, and for those lacking as did I a background in the past, this will aid one considerably.

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

All considered, this is a wonderful intro to Scholastic history and thought. There are many inspiring and stimulating sections. I should think it complements Chesterton's Saint Thomas Aquinas: The Dumb Ox quite well.

I wanted to give this book five stars, but the conclusion has some jarring weaknesses, which left me feeling dissatisfied. Since I would give the final chapter three stars for itself, I have averaged the rating at four.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

"'Christian philosophy' is not a more or less abstruse brand of philosophical activity corresponding to the special ('religious') interests of individuals. It is the only possible form of philosophy - if it is true that the Logos of God became man in Christ, and if by 'philosophy' we understand what the great forefathers of European philosophizing (Pythagoras, Plato, Aristotle) meant by it." - Pieper (p. 162)

[Mikedinnen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny at times, which helps. Otherwise, it is at times difficult to follow and unclear. It is a simple survey of the Scholastic period.

[Erik]

Recommended by James Schall in Another Sort of Learning, Intro to Part Three, as one of Fourteen Books by Josef Pieper.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read good short summary of the key characters and their place.