Chapter 3: Rome and the Middle Ages

Question 1

Peter Abelard

Answer 1

One of the first Western philosopher-theologians to emphasize the works of Aristotle

Question 2

Averroes

Answer 2

A Muslim physician and philosopher, who, among other things, wrote commentaries on Aristotle’s work on the senses, memory, sleep and waking, and dreams

Question 3

Avicenna

Answer 3

A Muslim physician and philosopher whose translations of, and commentaries on, the works of Aristotle strongly influenced subsequent Western philosophers

Question 4

Emperor Constantine

Answer 4

Roman Emperor whose Edict of Milan in 313 made Christianity a tolerated religion within the Roman Empire. Under Constantine’s leadership, widely diverse Christian writings and beliefs were formalized, thus facilitating the widespread acceptance of Christianity

Question 5

Maimonides

Answer 5

Jewish physician and philosopher who attempted to reconcile Aristotelian philosophy and Judaism

Question 6

Peter Lombard

Answer 6

Insisted that God could be known through faith, reason, or the study of his work in nature

Question 7

St. Albertus Magnus

Answer 7

Made a comprehensive review of Aristotle’s work. Following Aristotle’s suggestion, he also made careful, direct observations of nature

Question 8

St. Anselm

Answer 8

Argued that sense perception and rational powers should supplement faith
Ontological argument for the existence of god

Question 9

St. Thomas Aquinas

Answer 9

Epitomized Scholasticism. He sought to “Christianize” the works of Aristotle and to show that both faith and reason lead to the truth of God’s existence

Question 10

William of Occam

Answer 10

Denied the contention of the realists that what we experience are but manifestations of abstract principles. Instead, he sided with the nominalists who said that so-called abstract principles, or universals, were nothing more than verbal labels that we use to describe classes of experiences. For Occam, reality is what we experience directly; there is no need to assume a “higher” reality beyond our senses

Question 11

Conceptualism

Answer 11

Abelard’s proposed solution to the realism-nominalism debate.Abelard argued that concepts do not have independent existence (realism), but that, being abstractions, they are more than mere names (nominalism)

Question 12

Dialectic method

Answer 12

The technique used by Abelard in seeking truth. Questions are raised, and several possible answers to those questions are explored

Question 13

Nominalism

Answer 13

The belief that so-called universals are nothing more than verbal labels or mental habits that are used to denote classes of experience

Question 14

Occam’s razor

Answer 14

The belief that of several, equally effective alternative explanations, the one that makes the fewest assumptions should be accepted

Question 15

Ontological argument for the existence of God

Answer 15

St. Anselm’s contention that if we can think of something, it must be real. Because we can think of a perfect being (God), that perfect being must exist

Question 16

Realism

Answer 16

The belief that abstract universals (essences) exist and that empirical events are only manifestations of those universals

Question 17

Scholasticism

Answer 17

The synthesis of Aristotelian philosophy with Christian teachings