SCHOLASTICISM IN 13TH C. UNIVERSITIES = rational study of religion & philosophy

Curriculum for University faculties of Theology, Law, Medicine

Pre-university studies = Seven liberal arts, consists of trivium and quadrivium

Trivium: grammar (Latin)
rhetoric (persuasive speaking)
dialectics (science of argument, includes logic = science of reasoning)

Quadrivium: arithmetic, music, astronomy, geometry

Aristotle as “the philosopher” for scholastics
1260 translation of Aristotle’s Politics into Latin from Arabic, not directly from Greek

Scholastic project: reconciliation of faith (Scripture) and reason (Aristotle)

Argumentation:
central to scholastic approach: public debates; degree candidates defend thesis
truth determined by reasoned debate, within the limits of orthodox doctrine
anti-heretical motive: persuade heretics to convert using reason

Syllogisms (syllogistic reasoning):
once premises are accepted, conclusion follows logically.

Major premise: All men are rational.
Minor premise: Socrates is a man.
Conclusion: Socrates is rational.

Scholastic proof: rational, logical, authoritative;
synthesis of Christian faith & classical reason
formal definition of truth to combat heresy

Thomas Aquinas, O.P. Summa Theologica
13th C. encyclopedic “summary” of all theological issues
Part I: On God
Part II: On Creation (including man)
Part III: Redemption (after fall of Adam)

Basic organization of Summa = 
quaestio (question) example: “Whether God exists? 

structure of the quaestio (see links to two questions on Lecture outlines page)
                1) Objections: “It seems that God does not exist.”
2) “On the contrary”: correct answer comes from faith,
citation of authority, either from Scripture, early Christian writers or
Aristotle (on nature & philosophy)
3) Answer: “I answer that...” Here, Aquinas brings reason to bear on
proving the truths of Scripture; offers proofs for God’s existence,
variations on idea of “First Cause”
4) Response to objections: goes back to answer initial objections one by one.

SCHOLASTIC DEMONOLOGY

Ontology: science of being

Metaphysics: “beyond physics” philosophical study of nature of things
                          traditionally includes ontology, cosmology

Epistemology: science of knowing, how man knows

Great Chain of Being:  hierarchy of being from God to matter

God as pure being
Angels = pure spirit (intellectual substance) no bodies
moral nature may be good (angels) or bad (fallen angels or demons)
Man as combination of body & soul, matter & spirit
Animals
Plants
Rocks 

Thomas Aquinas on the powers of demons:
“From where do the works of magicians derive efficacy (power)?”

Divination: fortune telling = intellectual response
source must be “intellectual substance” (angel), but “not good accordingly to
virtue,” because forbidden by God’s law, i.e. bad angel or demon

Can devils work miracles?  not true miracles like those of God
but they can create illusions (Canon Episcopi)

Diabolical Pact as source of all magical effects

explicit pact: calling directly on demon for assistance

implicit pact: any magical procedure is implicitly diabolical because all magical effects come from Devil

Diabolical “aerial body”: devil is spirit, but can assume an “aerial body, ”
Diabolical sex: devil can have sex with humans in two forms:
Succubus (demon assumes female body) has sex with men & collects their sperm

Incubus (male body) has sex with women; uses male sperm to impregnate them