1. What is the scholastic method?
- The scholastic method is basically choosing a book by a well known author/scholar and going through it with a fine tooth comb. The theories and statements made by the author would then be discussed and debated logically.
2. What are “sententiae” and how did they figure in the scholastic
method?
-Sententiae are basically adages from ancient sources that are "quoted without context." I am guessing this means that they are old sayings that are quoted without naming their sources.. I am not entirely sure though. They were written down as points split into agreements and disagreements..
3. What was the aim of the scholastic method? What were they trying to
do?
- I suppose the scholastic method aimed to break down an authors work in order to look at all the points easier to break down rather than to go at the whole thing.. A divide and conquer type of mentality. Basically just simplified looking at the arguments.
4. What was “philology” and how did the scholastics use it?
- Philology is a combination of literary studies and linguistics. Scholastics used it to basically argue what the words said, what they intended to say, and even what it was inferring.
5. For the scholastics, what was the purpose of logical analysis?
- Logical analysis basically pointed out contradictions that weren't necessarily there but may have been noticed by the reader.
6. Why did Bonaventure think that reason supported the doctrine of
creation?
- St. Bonaventure probably supported the doctrine of creation because he accepted the Platonic doctrine that ideas do not exist but rather they are exemplified by the "divine being." I am guessing that by the divine being they are referring to the gods. And basically everything was made in their image.
7. What did Bonaventure think was our relationship to God?
- I am not entirely sure..
8. What did Aquinas think is the right relationship between faith and
reason?
- Aquinas believed that a person could always accept the religious norm by faith; however, he believed it was better if they established the most fundamental of the religious principles using reason.
9. How would Aquinas respond to a situation in which reason
contradicted faith?
- I think that Aquinas would take reason over faith because he believed that rational and logical thinking is the best way to think.. (pure guesswork)
10. State the problem of universals in your own words.
- ?!
11. Describe “realism” in your own words.
- Basically there are two forms of realism: Platonic and Aristotelian. I wont try and explain them because I am probably not qualified. Here's some Yogonic Realism: Basically things that we KNOW for sure. Things that we can see as they are: not how they will be or how they will end up.
12. Describe “nominalism” in your own words.
- Nominalism I think is kind of like physical reality as plato explains in the Republic, That whole example with the cave and what not. Its a bit much to explain especially when I dont realllly know how to explain it. Its called the Allegory of the cave. Look it up : )