Philosophy Literature in French

PHILOSOPHY

IT is often said that the period of Scholasticism connotes an
age of intellectual darkness and of interminable verbal
disputes. In truth, there is no time more significant by its
broad range of thought, the depth and acuteness of its scholars,
the important subjects which they examined. It is certain that
during the decadence of Scholasticism its achievements were
often ridiculous, yet under different names nearly all the prob­
lems which excite interest today were then discussed: idealism,
materialism, pantheism, mysticism, ontology, in metaphysics;
free-will and the soul in ethics and psychology; and the ques­
tions of morals and politics which remain unsettled even now.
Moreover, it should not be inferred that the great thinkers
held the extreme and irresponsible views often attributed to
them. These were generally the exaggerations of disciples.

The name Scholasticism is an embracing one and includes,
indeed, all who have had to do with the schools from the days
of the Carolingian scholars, in which connection the term is
first used, until it implied not merely masters or students, but
all clerks or scholars, and comprised within its limits theologians,
philosophers, men of science.

To the student of French thought the meaning of Scholasticism
is above all important, inasmuch as it was in France that the
movement found its growth and chief development. Its results,
being expressed in Latin, were indeed universal, and many of
its chief representatives were foreigners. And yet, because
of the leadership of France in thought and the renown of its
university, most of the foreigners lived or even settled there,
and their writings became as important as those of Frenchmen.

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Publication Information: Book Title: A History of French Literature. Contributors: C. H. Conrad Wright - author. Publisher: Oxford University Press. Place of Publication: New York. Publication Year: 1912. Page Number: 86.