Hegel's Lectures on the History of Philosophy: Volume 3 (of 3) — Georg Hegel — John Shaqi
Hegel's Lectures on the History of Philosophy: Volume 3 (of 3)
Georg Hegel · en
In this, says Tennemann (Vol. VIII. Sec. I. p. 121), “Anselm has laid
the first formal ground of scholastic theology;” but even before this
the same was present, only to a more limited extent, and merely for
individual dogmas—as is also the case with Anselm. His writings bear
witness of great penetration and mental ability; and he gave rise to
the philosophy of the scholastics, inasmuch as he united theology to
philosophy. The theology of the Middle Ages thus stands much higher than
that of modern times; never have Catholics been such barbarians as to
say that there should not be knowledge of the eternal truth, and that it
should not be philosophically comprehended. This is one point which has
to be specially noted in Anselm, the other is that he apprehended in its
unity that highest opposition between thought and Being spoken of above.
b. ABELARD.
With Anselm Peter Abelard is associated, both being mainly concerned
in the introduction of philosophy into theology. Abelard lived about
1100—from 1079 to 1142—and is famed for his learning, but still more
famed in the world of sentiment and passion for his love to Heloise and
his after fate.[23] After the days of Anselm he attained to great repute,
and he followed him in his treatment of the doctrines of the Church, more
especially seeking to give a philosophic proof of the Trinity. He taught
at Paris. Paris about this time was to the theologians what Bologna was
to the jurists, the central point of the sciences; it was at that time
the seat of philosophizing theology. Abelard often delivered his lectures
there before a thousand listeners. Theological science and philosophizing
regarding it, was in France (as was jurisprudence in Italy) a matter
of great importance, which, as most significant in the development of
France, has hitherto been too much neglected. The conception prevailed
that philosophy and religion were one and the same; which they absolutely
speaking are. But the distinction was soon reached, “that much may be
true in philosophy and false in theology:” this the Church denied.
Tennemann (Vol. VIII. Sec. II. pp. 460, 461) quotes as follows from a
rescript of the Bishop Stephen: “They say that this is true according to
philosophy, and not according to the Catholic faith, just as if there
were two contradictory truths, and as if in the doctrines of the accursed
heathen a truth contradictory to the truth of the holy scriptures could
be present.” While then undoubtedly, through the separation of the four
faculties in the University of Paris which came about in 1270, philosophy
became separated from theology, it was yet forbidden to it to subject
theological beliefs and dogmas to disputation.[24]
2. METHODICAL REPRESENTATION OF THE DOCTRINAL SYSTEM OF THE CHURCH.