Maurice de Wulf
An Introduction to Scholastic
Philosophy
Medieval and Modern
Translated by P. Coffey
editiones scholasticae
CONTENTS
PAGE
T R A N S L A T O R ' S P R E F A T O R Y N O T E .
A U T H O R ' S P R E F A C E
T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
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PART I
MEDIEVAL SCHOLASTIC PHILOSOPHY
CHAPTER
I
INTRODUCTORY
NOTIONS
1. T H E C O M M O N A C C E P T A T I O N O F T H E T E R M S C H O L A S T I C I S M ,
V A G U E AND U N F A V O U R A B L E
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.
3
(1. Vagueness of Term ; 2. Modern Contempt for Scholasticism since Renaissance ; Recent Reaction ; 3. Need of
Clearness about Scholasticism.)
2. T H E
POINT AT I S S U E — A MISTAKE TO BE AVOIDED
.
7
(4. Scholasticism is a " Philosophy " • 5. Scholastic Philosophy and Scholastic
Theology;
6. Samples of
Definitions ; 7. Application to Scholasticism—Plan of
Chapter.)
3. SCHOLASTICISM, THE " DAUGHTER OF THE SCHOOLS "
.
13
(8. The Word " Scholasticus " ; 9. Hauriau's Definition :
10. Picavet's Definition;
11. Criticism;
12. Comparison with Definitions of " Middle Ages.")
4. SCHOLASTIC METHODS
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19
(13. Constructive and Pedagogical ; 14. Constructive Method
before and after the XIII. Century ; 15. Uniformity of
Pedagogical Methods ; 16. Uniformity of Programme •;
17. Characteristics of Teaching 1 the Commentary •';
18. Systematic Exposition.;
19. The Triadic Scheme
ef Treatment;
20. The Syllogism;
21. History of
Philosophy ; 22. Mixture of Philosophy and Theology.)
5. DEFINITIOI. OF SCHOLASTICISM BV ITS METHODS
.
.
(23. By its Language ; 24. By the Syllogism •;• 25. Scholasticism as mere Systematization.)
31
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Xll
CONTEXTS
PAGE
6.
SCHOLASTIC PHILOSOPHY AND MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY
(26.
.
37
Confusion of Scholastic with Medieval Philosophy ; 27.
Origin of Confusion ; 28. Its Disadvantages ; 29. Scholasticism is " One System " or " Group of Systems " in
Medieval Philosophy ; 30. It is the System propounded
by the Leading Western Philosophers of the Middle Ages ;
31. Their Agreement Compatible with Individual Originality ; 32. Deviations from Scholasticism ; 33. Scholasticism, the Dominant System during the Middle Ages ,'
34.
Anti-Scholasticism.)
7. SCHOLASTIC PHILOSOPHY AND SCHOLASTIC THEOLOGY
.
53
(35. Former Defined by Subordination to Catholic Dogma f.
36. " Scholasticity " of a Philosophy ; 37. Relationship
in Origin and in Teaching ; 38. Nature and Extent of
Doctrinal Subordination ; 39. Co-ordination of Philosophy and Theology ; 40. Dialectic Method in Theology ;•
41. Summing up ; Conclusions; 42. Scholasticism and
Mysticism ; 43. Primacy of Theology Inadequate for a
Definition of Scholasticism ; Four Reasons.)
8. SCHOLASTIC PHILOSOPHY AND ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY
.
75
(44. Is Scholasticism a mere Recrudescence of the Aristotelian
Philosophy ? 45. Relations between Scholastic and Peripatetic Pliilosophy ; 46. Scholasticism and other Systems
of Ancient Philosophy.)
,9. SCHOLASTIC PHILOSOPHY AND THE MEDIEVAL SCIENCES
.
78
(47. Classification of Human Knowledge Antecedent to the
Thirteenth Century ; The Liberal A rts and Philosohpy ';
48. Classification Adopted in the Thirteenth Century';
Philosophy and the Sciences ; 49 Speculative Philosophy,
Physics, Mathematics, Metaphysics, Practical Philosophy ; 50. Close Union of Philosophy with the Special
Sciences.)
10.
SCHOLASTIC PHILOSOPHY AND THE PROBLEM OF UNIVERSAL
IDEAS
88
(52. Doctrinal Notions of Scholasticism •' the Latter Confined
to some One Isolated Doctrine ; 53. Reduced to the Controversy about Universal Ideas ; 54. Place of this Dispute
in Scholastic Philosophy.)
C H A P T E R
DOCTRINAL
11.
CONDITIONS
F O R A DOCTRINAL
II
DEFINITION
DEFINITION
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(55. Strict Technical Meaning of the Terms 1 Science, Philosophical System ; 56. Definition of " System " and of
" Systems " ; 57. Impossible to Describe a " System of
Doctrines " by any " One " Doctrine ; 58. A System is
an Individual Whole ; Ideal of a Doctrinal Definition ;
59. Application to Scholasticism.)
94
CONTENTS
Xlll
PAGE
12.
M E T A P H Y S I C S
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(60. Definition of Metaphysics ; 67. Transcendental Attributes ; Act and Potency ; Movement ; 62. Substance and
Accident, Quality, Operative Power ; 63. Matter and
Form; 64. Functions of Each; 65. The Universals ;
66. The Principle of Individuation ; 67. Essence and
Existence ; 68. Causes.)
13. THEODICY
m
(69. Relation of Metaphysics to Theodicy • 70. Existence of
God ; 71. His Nature and Attributes ; 72. God and the
World; Exemplarism, Creation, Providence.)
14. GENERAL PHYSICS
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(73. Object of Physics ; 74. Substantial Change ; 75. Rhythmic
Evolution and Generation of Forms ; j6. Finality of the
Universe.)
15. CELESTIAL AND TERRESTRIAL PHYSICS
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{Tj. Essential Distinction between Heavenly and Earthly
Bodies ; 78. Principles of Astronomical Physics and
Mechanics ; Immutability, Unicity and Circular Motion
of Heavenly Bodies ; 79. Terrestrial Physics j The Four
Elements ; The "Mixtum " ; 80. Influence of Heavens
on Sublunary Change.)
16. PSYCHOLOGY
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123
(81. Place and Division of Psychology ; 82. The Soul the
Substantial Form of the Composite Human Being ;
83. Spirituality
and Immortality of the Soul;
84.
Creationism ; 85. Faculties of Soul; 86. Knowledge;
87. "Species Sensibiles " ; Nature, Seat and Origin of
Sensation;
88. Object of Intellectual
Concept ;•
Abstraction;
89. Origin of Ideas;
90. Appetite,
Sensible and Rational;
Liberty.)
17. MORAL PHILOSOPHY AND LOGIC
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138
(91. Morality;
Moral Obligation;
92. Social
Ethics'
Politics : 93. Logic ; 94. Place of Logic in the Scholastic
System.)
18. CONCLUSION
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(95. General Doctrinal
THE
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142
Characteristics.)
CHAPTER III
DECLINE OF SCHOLASTICISM
19. GENERAL CAUSES OF THE DECADENCE OF SCHOLASTICISM
TOWARDS THE CLOSE OF THE M I D D L E AGES
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(96. In what Sense are we to speak of a Decay ? 97. Faults
of Language and Method.; Dialectical Abuses;
98
Ignorance of Doctrine;
99. Scholasticism and the
Scientific Renaissance in the Sixteenth Century ; 100.
Mistake of History ; 101. Conclusion.)
145
-XIV
CONTENTS
PART II
MODERN
SOME
SCHOLASTIC
PHILOSOPHY
CHAPTER I
EXTRA-DOCTRINAL NOTIONS
NEW SCHOLASTICISM
OF
THE
PAGE
20.
21.
T H E
W O R D
(102.
The New Words " Neo-Scholasticism " and " NeoThomism " : 103. Traditional Elements and Innovations
in the New Scholasticism ; 104. Conclusion.)
T H E
T H I N G
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MEASURES FOR TEACHING AND PROPAGANDISM
(105.
22.
AND
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1
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5
7
168
Propaganda ; Programmes ; Modification of Traditional
Teaching Methods;
106. New Didactic Methods ;
107. In What Language should the New Scholasticism
be Taught ? State of the Question ; History of Philosophical Latin;
108. Advocates of Latin;
Arguments
Answered;
109. Disadvantages of Latin;
n o . Conclusion.)
T H E N E W SCHOLASTICISM AND THE HISTORY OF PHILOSOPHY
182
( i n . Study of the Latter ; Causes of its Development ; 112.
The New Scholasticism Cannot Afford to Neglect its
Cultivation : 113. Historical Study is in Keeping with
Spirit of Scholasticism ; Its Advantages to Scholasticism ;
114.
Conclusion.)
23.
T H E N E W SCHOLASTIC PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIOUS DOGMA
(115.
34.
THE NEW
(119.
SCHOLASTICISM AND THE MODERN SCIENCES
DOCTRINES
CHAPTER II
OF THE NEW
DOCTRINAL INNOVATIONS
(124.
.
200
General Difference between the Medieval and the Modern
Sciences; 120. Need of a Scientific Philosophy ; 121.
Need admitted both by Scholastics and by Advocates of
other Contemporary Systems ; 122. Alleged Hostility of
Scholastics to Science ; Common or Unscientific Observation not an Adequate Basis for Philosophy:
123.
Organized Teaching of Scientific Philosophy.)
THE
35.
190
Change of Pedagogic Relations between Philosophy'and
Theology; 116. Doctrinal Relations; Principle;
Application;
117. A Philosopher may be a Catholic and
Reject the New ^Scholasticism ;• 118. Conclusion.)
.
SCHOLASTICISM
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What These Are, in General; 125. Rejection of False
and Useless Theories : 126. Testing of Those Retained ;
127. Introduction of New Doctrinal Elements.)
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CONTENTS
26.
METAPHYSICS
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(128. Possibility of Metaphysics;
129. Various
physical Questions of Actual Interest.)
27.
THEODICY
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Meta.
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(130. Possibility of Theodicy ; 131. Existence of God '; 132.
Nature of God.)
28. COSMOLOGY
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(133. New Facts;
134. Their Agreement
with
cism ; 135. Decline of Mechanical Theory of
29. G E N E R A L P S Y C H O L O G Y
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225
ScholastiAtomism.)
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230
(136. Fertility and Power of the New Scholastic Psychology ;
137. Problems Regarding Man's
Activities. '; 138. Problems on the Nature of Man ; 139. Extension of Sphere
of Psychological
Studies.)
30. C R I T E R I O L O G Y
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235
(14a. Place of Criteriology in Philosophical
Curriculum;
141. Two Fundamental Questions ; the " Ideal" Objectivity of Judgments ; 142. Their Objective " Reality " ;
143. Questions for Special Criteriology.)
31. ESTHETICS
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239
(144. Origin of Esthetics as a Special Branch of Philosophy ;
145. Its Fundamental Questions; 146. Impression of
the Beautiful;
147. Objective Aspect of the Beautiful;
148. Connection of Two Aspects; 149. Philosophy of
Art; 150. Conclusion.)
32. OTHER BRANCHES OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL CHARACTER .
.
245
(151. Psycho-physiology;
152. Didactics and Pedagogy I
153. Collective or " Folk "-Psychology;
Sociological
Psychology;
154. Individual Psychology;
155. The
New Scholasticism and the New Psychologies.)
33. ETHICS AND NATURAL RIGHT
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252
(156. General Ethics ; 157. Natural Right or Social Ethics.)
34. LOGIC
236
(158. Fundamental
THE
Questions;
FUTURE
35. CONCLUSION
.
159. Methodology.)
CHAPTER III
OF THE NEW
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SCHOLASTICISM
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(160. The New Scholasticism against Neo-Kaniism
and
Positivism : 161. Recognition Accorded to the former i
162. Its Future will Depend on its Merit alone.)
259
XVI
CONTENTS
APPENDIX
PAGE
PHILOSOPHY AND THE SCIENCES AT LOUVAIN
.
.
.
263
(i. Project of a Philosophical Institute, 264 ; it. Spirit of
Philosophical Studies at Louvain, 268 ; Hi. Influence
of the Louvain School of Philosophy, 284 ; iv. Organization of Courses at the Institute, 289 ; v. Textbooks
and Teaching at the Institute, 298 ; vi. Philosophical
Literature at the Institute, 311 ; vii. Conclusion, 316).
INDEX
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