Introduction to Scholastic Theology
Introduction to
Scholastic
Theology
•
Ulrich G. Leinsle
Translated by Michael J. Miller
The Catholic University of America Press
Washington, D.C.
Originally published in 1995 in German as Ulrich G. Leinsle,
Einführung in die scholastische Theologie
(Paderborn: Verlag Ferdinand Schöningh).
Copyright © 2010
The Catholic University of America Press
All rights reserved
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements
of American National Standards for Information Science—
Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials,
ANSI Z39.48-1984.
∞
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Leinsle, Ulrich Gottfried.
[Einführung in die scholastische Theologie. English]
Introduction to scholastic theology / Ulrich G. Leinsle ;
Translated by Michael J. Miller.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8132-1792-5 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Scholasticism—History. I. Title.
B839.L4513 2010
230.09—dc22 2010028748
Contents
Abbreviations ix
Introduction: What Is Scholastic Theology?
1
1 On the history of the concept “Scholasticism” 1
2 Attempts at a definition 5
3 Characteristics 9
4 Scholastic theology 12
1 How Did Scholastic Theology Come About?
1 Patristic themes and methods 16
16
1.1 Philosophy and theology 16
1.2 Auctoritas and ratio 20
1.3 Augustine’s program of Christian education and theology 24
1.4 Systematic and axiomatic theology: Boethius 28
1.5 Collections of sentences: Isidore of Seville 31
2 Scholastic theology: Methods and presentation 33
2.1 Development of the schools, curriculum, and the liberal arts 34
2.2 Instructional procedure 39
2.3 The Bible and Scholastic theology 43
2.4 Collections of sentences and Summas 54
2.5 Theological systematization 59
2.6 Treatise and letter 65
2.7 The Scholastic sermon 68
2 The Self-Concept of Early Scholastic Theologies
1 Freedom from contradiction and theological truth:
Duns Scotus Eriugena v
74
74
vi Contents
2 Faith seeking understanding: Anselm of Canterbury 78
3 Systematic treatment of patristic sentences: The school of Laon
82
4 Theology as wisdom and way of life: Hugh of St. Victor
86
5 Theology as linguistic criticism: Peter Abelard
90
6 The metaphysical grammar of discourse about God:
Gilbert Porreta
94
7 The textbook: The Sentences of Peter Lombard
98
8 Axiomatic theology
102
9 Towards a standard theological language
107
10 Scholastic and monastic theology
111
11 Learned heresy
115
3 Theology as a Science at the University
1 The university as the home of theology
120
120
1.1 University organization, teaching activity, and
presentational forms 120
1.2 The mendicant orders at the universities
124
1.3 Biblical or systematic theology?
126
2 Aristotle as a challenge to theology
131
2.1 A new scientific model
131
2.2 A pagan view of the world and man
133
2.3 The influence of non-Christian syntheses
136
2.4 The Church’s reaction: The prohibition of Aristotle
138
2.5 Theological truth and the truths of the natural sciences
141
2.6 The condemnations of 1270 and 1277
144
3 The scientific character of theology
147
3.1 Faith and argument: William of Auxerre
147
3.2 Between Bible and science: The early Dominicans
149
3.3 Salvation history or metaphysics: The Summa Halensis
154
3.4 Presuppositions and goal of theological science:
Albert the Great 158
3.5 Theology as science and wisdom in Christ: Bonaventure
162
3.6 A proof of scientific character? Thomas Aquinas
167
3.7 The Franciscan reaction: William de la Mare
171
3.8 Immunization through “enlightenment”: Henry of Ghent
175
3.9 Augustinian or Aristotelian science? Ægidius Romanus
179
Contents vii
4 Theological Controversy and Church Reform
182
1 Scholastic theology amid societal upheaval
182
1.1 The development of academic study
182
1.2 Formation of schools and the dispute about the two ways
187
1.3 Theology, Church, and society: Wycliffe and Hus
193
1.4 Toward a biblical and affective theology: Johannes Gerson
199
1.5 University theology and spiritual direction for aristocratic
ladies: Vienna 203
1.6 Scholastic criticism of devotio moderna and Reform theology
207
2 Theological certainty in an uncertain age?
210
2.1 Human action in the knowledge of God: Duns Scotus
210
2.2 Assuring human statements about God: Francis
of Meyronnes 214
2.3 Axiomatic metaphysics as the foundation of theology:
Meister Eckhart 218
2.4 What can we know? William of Ockham
222
2.5 Propositional logic of the faith: Robert Holcot
227
2.6 What can we do? Gregory of Rimini
231
2.7 God’s knowledge and human freedom: Marsilius of Inghen
234
2.8 How do I find a gracious God? Gabriel Biel
238
5 Humanist and Reformation Theology
243
1 University, humanism, and Reformation
243
1.1 Reformatio studii: Wish and reality
243
1.2 Biblical-humanist reform of theology: Erasmus of Rotterdam
247
1.3 University theology and Reformation: Disputatio
250
2 Approach to theology in Reformed Christianity
255
2.1 “Contra scholasticam theologiam”: Martin Luther
255
2.2 The new “Summa”: Melanchthon’s “Loci theologici”
260
2.3 Summa of self-knowledge and practical knowledge about
God: Calvin 264
3 The Catholic understanding of theology
268
3.1 Humanist reform of Scholasticism and controversy:
Johannes Eck 268
3.2 Cajetan and the new Thomism
272
viii Contents
6 Scholastic Theology: Early Modern Period
1 Development and presentational forms 277
277
1.1 The university as a territorial and confessional institution
for education 278
1.2 Catholic theology after the Council of Trent
280
1.3 Scholastic and positive theology
286
1.4 The development of schools of Catholic theology
290
1.5 Presentational forms
294
2 The “Scholasticism” of Protestant orthodoxy
298
2.1 From creed to theological system
299
2.2 Concept of theology in early Lutheran Orthodoxy:
Johann Gerhard 302
2.3 Anti-Scholastic “Scholasticism”: Abraham Calov
306
2.4 Theology in one sentence: Johann Adam Scherzer
311
2.5 Theology within the framework of the encyclopedia:
Johann Heinrich Alsted 315
2.6 Reformed “Cartesian Scholasticism”: Christoph Wittich
319
3 God and modern man: The debate about grace
323
3.1 Man as a free instrument of God: Francisco Suárez
323
3.2 Natural morality or the effect of grace? Gabriel Vázquez
327
3.3 God’s decision and man’s freedom: Bartolomeo Mastri
331
3.4 God’s knowledge dependent on free human beings:
Rodrigo de Arriaga 334
3.5 Thomistic opposition to the scientia media:
Jean-Baptiste Gonet 338
3.6 Causal-metaphysical predetermination of the will:
Ludwig Babenstuber 342
4 The difficult assimilation of the new
346
4.1 Caramuel and the Galileo case
346
4.2 Cartesian teaching on the Eucharist: Robert Desgabets
348
4.3 Eclectic theology: Eusebius Amort
351
7 Prospect: Enlightenment and New Scholasticism
354
Bibliography
361
Index of Names
387
Abbreviations
Abbreviations for editions of complete works are noted during the
discussion of the individual authors.
Periodicals and Series
ABG Archiv für Begriffsgeschichte. Bonn.
AFP Archivum Fratrum Praedicatorum. Rome.
AFrHArchivum Franciscanum Historicum. Firenze [Florence].
AHDArchives d’histoire doctrinale et littéraire du moyen
âge. Paris.
AHSI Archivum Historicum Societatis Iesu. Rome.
AnPraem Analecta Praemonstratensia. Averbode.
ATG Archivo teologico Granadino. Granada.
BGPh(Th)MABeiträge zur Geschichte der Philosophie (und Theologie)
des Mittelalters. Münster.
CollFr Collectanea Franciscana. Rome.
CUPChartularium Universitatis Parisiensis. Ed. by Heinrich
Denifle. 4 vols. Paris 1889–1897.
EThLEphemerides theologicae Lovanienses. Leuven/Louvain.
FStud Franziskanische Studien. Münster.
FZPhThFreiburger Zeitschrift für Philosophie und Theologie.
Fribourg.
HDGHandbuch der Dogmengeschichte. Ed. by Michael
Schmaus. Freiburg im Breisgau.
HDThGHandbuch der Dogmen- und Theologiegeschichte. Ed. by
Carl Andresen. Göttingen.
HJHistorisches Jahrbuch (der Görresgesellschaft). Munich.
ix
x Abbreviations
HPBLHistorisch-politische Blätter für das katholische
Deutschland. Munich.
HZ Historische Zeitschrift. Munich.
MS Mediaeval Studies. Toronto.
QuD Quaestiones Disputatae. Freiburg im Breisgau.
RBenRevue bénédictine de critique, d’histoire et de littérature
religieuses. Maredsous.
RÉAug Revue des études augustiniennes. Paris.
RechAug Recherches augustinennes. Paris.
RGST Reformationsgeschichtliche Studien und Texte. Münster.
RMAL Revue du Moyen-âge latin. Strasbourg.
RSR Recherches de science religieuse. Paris.
RThAMRecherches de théologie ancienne et médiévale.
Leuven/Louvain.
RThom Revue thomiste. Paris.
SMGBStudien und Mitteilungen zur Geschichte des
Benediktinerordens und seiner Zweige. Munich.
SSL Spicilegium sacrum Lovaniense. Leuven/Louvain.
StudLeib Studia Leibnitiana. Wiesbaden.
ThPQ Theologisch-Praktische Quartalschrift. Linz.
VIEGVeröffentlichungen des Instituts für Europäische
Geschichte Mainz. Wiesbaden.
WiWei Wissenschaft und Weisheit. Düsseldorf.
ZKG Zeitschrift für Kirchengeschichte. Stuttgart.
ZKTh Zeitschrift für katholische Theologie. Innsbruck.
Introduction to Scholastic Theology