NOMINALISM :: CONCEPTUALISM :: REALISM

Paul Operach PHTH 618: British Franciscans: Bacon, Scotus, Ockham and the

Oxford Cradle of Modernity

IntroductionThe purpose of this presentation is to present an overview of the philosophical-theological notions of nominalism, conceptualism and realism. The emphasis will be on nominalism.

11th CenturyRoscellinus of Compiegne was a 11th Century French philosopher-theologian who questioned the views of Anselm of Aosta (Saint Anselm) and Peter Abelard. Arguments between these parties centered on what later would be called nominalism. Present day scholars dispute some earlier understandings of Roscellinus of Compiegne because of the lack of availability of his writings. These are the common disputed issues regarding Roscellinus:1. That the Son of God could not take on human nature alone.2. That Roscellinus advocated Tritheism.3. That the doctrine of Three Gods might be asserted by truth. 4. That universals are mere verbal expressions.5. That the theology of the Blessed Trinity is not to be mixed with philosophy.6. That Roscellinus is unable, or ill equipped, to understand the unity of a human being.

  Basil Studer, O.S.B., History of Theology, pp. 140-144.

ConceptualismPeter of Abelard was a 12th Century French theologian-philosopher. He advocated a discussion methodology using reason know as dialectics. He was concerned about the traditional philosophical idea of universals propounded by Plato. Peter of Abelard was one of the first medieval philosophers-theologians to recognize an Aristotelian viewpoint. His approach was logic. Peter of Abelard is sometimes referred to as the father of nominalism; yet, most scholars would describe him as a conceptualist. Indeed, Peter of Abelard is known primarily for his methodology of logic but his moral exemplar theory should not be forgotten. Lastly, it is his relationship to Heloise which has overshadowed his brilliance as a theologian-philosopher.

Peter Abelard (1079-1142)

ENGLISH FRANSICANS EXPRESSING FRANSICAN TRADITION

(Office of Friars Minor, O.F.M.) EnglishRoger Bacon Saint Bonaventure Robert Grossatesta* Haymo of Haversham Alexander of Hales Richard of Middleton William of Ockham John Peckham John Duns Scotus William of Ware Thomas of York

 *Founded Franciscan School at Oxford.

Definitions Nominalism: A theory of philosophical thought ... that there are no universal essences in reality and that the mind can form no single concept or image corresponding to a universal or general term. (http://www.merrianwebster.com/dictionary/nominalism)

Conceptualism: A theory of philosophical thought ...between realism and nominalism that universals exist in the mind as "concepts" of discourse or as predicates which may be properly affirmed by reality. (http://www.merrianwebster.com/dictionary/conceptualism)

Realism: A theory of philosophical thought ...that objects of sense perception or cognition exist independently of the mind.. (http://www.merrianwebster.com/dictionary/realism)

CHANGED PERSPECTIVES

13th Century (Emergence of philosopher-theologians) ↓

Creative and ↔ Thomas Aquinas ↔ Primarily Metaphysical Critical Thinker (Christian-Aristotelianism) Questions

↓ 14th Century (Emergence of schools/movements)

↓ Six Identified ↔ Logical Questions and Terms

Emphasized ↓ ______________________________________________________________________ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓Thomism Scotism Nominalism Illuminationism Augustinianism Mysticism Aquinas John Duns William of Ockham Henry of Ghent Giles of Rome Meisler Eckert Scotus aka: Ockhamism Modernism Terminism

William is considered one of the greatest, if not the greatest, medieval scholastic. He developed insightful interpretations of philosophy and theology based on analytical methodology called nominalism. He challenged ideas of metaphysics in both philosophy and theology. He is well known for his Theory of Parsimony (simplicity). This is commonly called Ockham's Razor. William of Ockham (c. 1287-1347)

William Of Ockham, O.F.M.

It is believed that William was born in Ockham, Surrey, England in the mid 1280's. Little is known of his early life. He entered the Franciscan Order and was ordained in 1306. He was educated at Oxford University and taught there on Sacred Scripture and philosophy. He rose to the level of Regent Master.

He had been accused of teaching heretical doctrine. He was called to Avignon where Pope John XXII was sitting. William challenged the primacy of the Pope. Initially, William was not condemned but after fleeing to Bavaria , he was excommunicated. Later, William recanted. It is reported that he died in 1349 from the Black Death.

Generally, Nominalist:

1. Use logical analysis and synthesis.

2. Use criticism not speculation.

3. Challenge traditional metaphysical ideas and proofs. Little, if any, use of apologetic discourse.

4. Rejected realism and spiritual skepticism.

Theologically, Nominalist:

1. Diminish views on natural theology and natural psychology.

2. Propound spirituality and morality of soul based on non-self evident truths.

Metaphysical Nature Of God

Thomist Scotist Nominalist

Essence of God Essence of GodEssence of Godis in total of God’s is in God’s quality is in God’s absoluteperfections.in which God intellectuality.

possesses allperfectionsabsolutely.

In Tradition and Scripture: God is pure act without anything else. Exodus 3:14 (Divine Essence)

 

Two Views :: Attributes of God

Scotism

Difference is between attributes is found in formal distinctions.

Nominalism

Distinguishing qualities; no role in His Essence only operations of God.

Knowledge As Viewed By Speculative Theologians-Philosophers

1. Sought mix of natural and dogmatic theology.

2. Mind can attain objective knowledge of essences.

3. Saint Thomas O.P, Saint Bonaventure O.F.M., John Duns Scotus O.F.M., Henry of Ghent O.E.S.A. and Giles of Rome O.E.S.A.

Famous Ockham Maxims

1. All things are possible for God, save such as involve a contradiction.

2. Whatever God produces by means of secondary (i.e. created) causes, God can produce and conserve immediately without their aid.

3. God can cause, produce and conserve every reality, be it a substance or an accident, apart from any reality.

4. Plurality is not to be posited without necessity.

5. Everything that is real, and different from God, is contingent to the core of its being.

Philotheus Boehner, O.F.M . (Rev. Stephen F. Brown) Ockham: Philosophical Writings, xix-xxi.

FOCUS QUESTION What is the role of faith and Aristotelianism in the late 13th

Century Church?  

FOCUS QUESTION 

To what extent, if any, did nominalism influence the emergence of mathematical and scientific learning

in the 13th and 14th Century?

FOCUS QUESTION 

Was Martin Luther a nominalist?

FOCUS QUESTION

Would Ockham's assertions regarding intuitive knowledge be relevant to the development of Lutheranism?

FOCUS QUESTION 

What is meant by:...the form of corporeity must be postulated in order to

explain the numerical identity of Christ's dead body with His living body.

Frederick Copleston, S.J. A History of Philosophy, Volume III, p. 98.

OVERVIEWNominalism Conceptualism Realism

Key Persons: Roselin of CompiegnePorphyry's viewPetrus AureloiWilliam of OckhamMartin Luther

Durandus Aristotle (Peripatetic School)AverroesAvicennaThomas AquinasSaint BonaventureJohn Duns Scotus

Universals are: Merely verbal expressions.Only individuals exists.Only in mind.No substantial reality.Only are “names” for things and events.

Opposed Spiritual Philosophy.Scholasticism per se.Opposed Platonic view of monistic conception of Universe.

Abstract Concepts: No independent existence in nature.

Exist in own right independent of physical world.

Nominalism Conceptualism RealismKnowledge is: Subjective

All real knowledge based on intuitive knowledge of individual being

Objective.

Natural Law: Cannot be believed. Is believable.

Immorality: Disputed Thomism. Stressed natural certainty of man’s immorality.

Unity:Form:Man Rationalism.Corporeity

Aquinas-Aristotelianism.

Reality: Potential of matter, real or actual.Form: actualizing agent.

Soul: Intellectual soul, sensitive soul. Sensitive soul and form of corporeity are distinct.

Olivi: rational soul or intellectual soul is not per se an essential form of body.

Soul is spiritual substance effected by matter. Related to forms vegatative and sensitive. Aristotle’s soul “Perfection of Body”.

Nominalism Conceptualism RealismTruth: Bonaventure:

discoverable only with faith. Grace gift from God as quality of soul (CCC); perfects soul substance.

Grace: Permanent goodwill of God. Man’s sin remitted due to merits of Jesus of which actual grace helps man towards salvation.

Good Works: Man’s good works lie in God’s acceptance of it, or them (see Scotus)

Thomism further defines meritoriousness values with grace itself.

Moral Laws: Depend on Divine will and choice.

Moral perfection of man (Bonaventure)

Annotated Bibliography

Boehner, Philotheus, O.F.M. Ockham: Philosophical Writings. (Revised by Stephen Brown). Indianapolis, IN.: Hackett Publishing, 1990, xix-xxi. This section provides a understanding and background views on metaphysics and logic.

Copleston, Fredrick, S.J. “Late Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy”. A History of Philosophy. Volume III. New York: Doubleday, 1992 (Paperback), 24-181. Copleston provides an extensive analysis of theological-philosophical

thought in the 13th and 14th Century. He contrasts Ockham’s theology- philosophy with others on logic, universals, the soul, natural rights and plurality of forms in man.

De Wulf. M. “Nominalism, Realism, Conceptualism.” The Catholic Encyclopedia. Volume 11. Kevin Knight Editor. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. Found at…http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11090c.htm. This is a history and brief examination of the philosophical notions of nominalism, realism and conceptualism. The article covers a period from Greek times through modern times. Considerable attention is given to the Middle Ages.

Hughes, James. “Were the Humanist Right to Dismiss so much of Medieval Theology”. The Theologian::Internet Journal of Medieval Theology, 2005 (at Oxford?). Found at…http://www.theologian.org.uk. The tone of this article expresses “neoplatonic philosophy with an Aristotelian dialect”. Major theories of 13th Century Franciscan

philosophers/theologians are expressed.

Kaye, Sharon. “William of Ockham c. 1280-c.1349.” (Metaphysical Libertarianism::Section 7) Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. John Carroll University, 2007. Found at…http://www.iep.utm.edu/ockham. This article discusses aspects of 13th century Franciscan Peter Olivi’s Sentences Commentary. How we deal with experience, Divine foreknowledge and issues of free will are highlighted. “God is the standard of goodness” articulated throughout this article.

Kilcullen, John. “Natural Law and Will in Ockham.” History of Philosophy Yearbook. Volume 1. Canberra, Australia: Austrian Society of

Philosophy, 1993. Found at…http://www.humanities.mq.edu.au/ockham/wwill.html. Discussed are kinds of Natural Law. A polemic is presented regarding voluntarists and moral theory. A strong emphasis appears to be on the Franciscan viewpoint in the stages of human development.

McClusky, Colleen. “Medieval Theories of Free Will.” St. Louis: Saint Louis University, 2007. Found at…http//www.iep.utm.edu/freewi-m. The notion of free will and the influence of Aristotelian thought from the early Middle Ages to the higher Middle Ages as expressed in Thomas Aquinas and John Duns Scotus is evidenced.

Studer, Basil, O.S.B. “Moderns vs. Ancients”. History of Theology: Modern Period. Collegeville, MN.: Liturgical Press, 2011, 140-163. This section contains discussions on Platonic-panlogicism/Augustinian views concerning faith, intellect and truth highlighting the notions of Roscellinus and Saint Anselm of Aosta.