The Philosophical Movement in the Thirteenth Century

by Fernand van Steenberghen

This work is based on a series of public lectures delivered at the Queen's University, Belfast intended to complete and correct the received picture of how Philosophy and Theology were affected by the introduction of Aristotle, whose works had been rediscovered through Arabic channels. Arabic translators and commentators made much ancient learning known, and this knowledge affected the thinking in the universities. The School of Arts was where philosophy was taught, but this inevitably affected the School of Theology, as professors began their careers in Arts and moved on to Theology. Aristotle's teaching brought questions to the fore that had not been central to those in the earlier, usually Neo-Platonic traditions. In general, Steenberghen argues that most theologians wished to adopt Aristotelian philosophy where this was consistent with Christian revelation, correcting it where it was not. They considered Aristotle to be deficient in theology proper, but helpful in his general understanding of rationality. There was an attempt to hold to traditional Augustinian theology, even while updating philosophy with new Aristotelian approaches. They would not have seen this as culminating in a Christian philosophy, but in a true philosophy, where it was reasonable as far as reason could go without divine revelation.

115 pages, Hardcover

First published July 15, 1955